*Kashmir’s Nahida among 10 women wrestlers to compete
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 30: As many as wrestlers from different parts of the country and four other countries will be taking part in an annual ‘Mission Dosti Maha Dangal’ competition being organised during Katra festival but this year, all eyes will be on Kashmir’s first woman grappler.
This will be the 15th edition of ‘Mission Dosti Maha Dangal’ as a part of nine-day long Katra festival, which was started way back in 2004 with an aim to develop cordial relations between India and Pakistan.
However, there was no participating from Pakistan side after tension escalated between the neighbouring nations.
International grapplers are all set to flex muscles in this ‘Mission Dosti International Indian Style Maha Dangal’ competition, being organised on October 2 at SMVDSB Sports Stadium in holy town Katra in District Reasi.
The participating four Iranian wrestlers are Hadi, Ali, Reza and Bagher. Prominent among the India wrestlers are Mousim Khatri (Asian Games Bronze medalist), Munna (Maharastra), Akash (Bharat Kesari), Sanjeet (National Champion), Deepak (Delhi), Noor Saker (Delhi), Naveen, Yash, Sumit, Munish (Delhi) and Mohan (Maharastra). Prominent J&K wrestlers participating in this Maha Dangal included Abdul Gani, Benia Min, Amir Khan, Dillar Khan, Ranjeet Singh, Babba, Ajay Sharma, Salman, Bablu,Muneer, Chain Singh, Panku, Bharat Bushan, Rajesh Sharma, Gopal Sharma, Laikat Ali, Roshan lal Sharma, Ali, Nadeem, Surjeet Singh, Rashid, Madan Singh and Arjun.
Dangal, part of the Navratra Festival, will also feature the women events involving some promising female wrestlers of the country. Participating women wrestlers are Bindu, Rinku Malik, Deepika Nain (Ghaana Panipat), Kavita, Divya (Madhuban, Haryana), Sudesh Pooja, Mamta, Preeti (Hissar), Nahida Nabi (Ganderbal, Kashmir) and Sangita (Delhi).
The event of international repute will be organized by Katra Indian Style Wrestling Association with active support of District Administration and locals of Katra in district Reasi under the aegis of Indian Style Wrestling Association of India (ISWAI).
“While the participations of those foreign wrestlers have already been confirmed, entries from those locals from Jammu and Kashmir and other Northern Indian States still pouring in. Wrestling lovers in J&K eagerly wait for this prestigious sports event of the State,” informed President of the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma while interacting with media persons here today.
“For smooth and successful conduct of the competition, different committees have been set up involving those technical individuals of repute from within and outside the state. Efforts have been made to ensure a fair demonstration of talent, technique and the strength,” maintained Shiv Kumar Sharma.
A host of dignitaries, including those veteran national and State wrestlers, officers from police and civil administration and prominent politicians are among in the long list of guests.
Among the organisers are Shiv Kumar Sharma, President Katra Indian Style Wrestling Association, Pappu Lakri and Vice Chairman of Katra Indian Style Wrestling Association, Sohan Singh Thakur.
The event is sponsored by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Katra, Department of Tourism, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), HDFC Bank, NHPC and J&K Bank. The event is supported by J&K State Sports Council, Department of Youth Services and Sports; J&K Police and Central Reserve Police Force.
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