Sher-e-Punjab Dangal - Pakistan Wrestling

Daily Times Staff Report
LAHORE: Bank Alfalah sponsored Sher-e-Punjab Dangal, under the auspices of Punjab Sports Board, will be held at Punjab Stadium here on Sunday (tomorrow) in which Shahid Pehlwan will defend his title. A spokesman for the organisers said Friday that there would be 20 small and big bouts. “The main contest will be held between Shahid Pehlwan and Usman Pehlwan while other main bouts will be between Goga Pehlwan and Maloo Pehlwan and between Sarwar Sain Pehlwan and Ikki Pehlwan,” he added. Cash prizes of more than Rs300, 000 will be distributed among the wrestlers. “The event is being organised to promote sports activities in the province,” the spokesman added. He said the dangal would play an important role in reviving traditional style of wrestling.

Praising the contributions of sponsors, Bank Alfalah, the spokesman said the bank was contributing a lot to revive traditional sports. Hamid Mirza of Bank Alfalah said his organisation was sponsoring sports activities to motivate youth to get involve in sports for the creation of healthy society. “We are not restricted to one game or any particular event, our doors are open to every sport as we have already sponsored major and minor sports of the country and sponsoring dangal is a part of our plan to pay attention to traditional sports which highlight our culture and traditions,” he added.

The title bout grapplers – Shahid and Usman – are confident of their success. “I am fully prepared and I will take just fifteen minutes to send him to soil to prove that I deserve to win the title,” the defending champion told reporters. “I know the task is not easy but I will fight till the last drop of energy to prove my prowess,” he added. Usman, beaming with confidence, expressed the determination to upset his much-fancied opponent because of his hard work and technique. “This dangal is going to have a new champion in me,” he claimed.