Wrestler Yudhvir lifts Mission Dosti Wrestling Title

State Times
KATRA: Promising Indian wrestler, Yudhvir of Haryana lifted the prestigious 8th Mission Dosti International Indian Style wrestling title outplaying his rival from England, Leon in the final bout that played at the jam-packed Vivekanand Sports Stadium, on Sunday.
Wrestler Yudhvir was awarded with a cash prize of Rs 55,000 besides Silver Gurj and Patta. Runners-up, Leon of England awarded with cash prize of Rs 45,000.
In other main bouts, wrestler Vikram of Uttar Pradesh defeated Mohd Azam of Pakistan while another Indian wrestler, Paru trounced Jiwan Anwar of Pakistan. Likewise, Rinku of Delhi defeated Harab of Ukraine.
London Olympics medalist, Yogeshwar Dutta remained start attraction of the valedictory function. He was also honoured for bringing laurels to the country at the highest sporting event of the world.
Minister for Sports, R.S Chib was Chief Guest in this mega event, who gave away the prizes to the winners and runners-up of main bouts. Minister complemented the J and K Indian Style Wrestling Association, SMVDSB, District Administration and all other agencies for holding prestigious wrestling event at Katra to promote goodwill among the nations, especially the neighbouring Pakistan.
He said that India always favoured pleasant relationship with Pakistan and efforts were being made to promote peace and brotherhood in the sub-continent through the medium of sports. The minister said that government is committed to create adequate sports infrastructure in the state to enable the young players to display their sports talent in a big way adding that such activities promote harmony, brotherhood and peace.
Part of the ongoing Navratra Festival at the holy town of Katra, the wrestling championship was organised by J and K Indian Style Wrestling Association with the support of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board(SMVDSB), J and K Tourism Department, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Navratra Festival Committee, Katra Municipal Committee, District Administration and locals of Katra.
Besides Olympian wrestler, Yogeswar Dutt, President of J and K Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma was also honored.
Among others present were Legislatures, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Baldev Raj Sharma, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Lal Chand, Bharat Bhusan, DIG, Jagjit Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Raghubir Singh, Addl. SP, Mohan Lal and president Wrestling Federation of India Ram Aasrey Yadav.

MISSION DOSTI WRESTLING - KUMAR DEFEATS ANWAR

Times of India

KATRA (J&K): India's Joginder Kumar won the 7th Mission Dosti International Indian Style wrestling title at jam packed Vivekanand Sports Stadium by defeating his Pakistani rival Zaman Anwar in the final bout on Sunday.

The wrestling championship was organized as a part of Navratra Festival by the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association with the active support of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Jammu and Kashmir Police, Navratra Festival Committee, Katra Municipal Committee, District Administration and local people of Katra.

In other main contests, Yousuf of Pakistan defeated India's Akshay of Akhara Khanna, while Ahmed Khan of Pakistan defeated India's Rinku. Minister of Youth Services and Sports, R S Chib, who was the chief guest on the occasion, praised the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, SMVDSB, District Administration and all other agencies for holding first ever triangular wrestling event at Katra to promote goodwill between the two countries.

Chib said that India always favoured good relationship with Pakistan, adding that efforts are being made to promote peace and brotherhood in the subcontinent through the medium of sports. To encourage sports culture in the state, the minister said that adequate sports infrastructure is being created in the state, adding that work on the construction of Vivekananda Sport Stadium at Katra would be started soon.

He said the completion of the stadium would enable young players to display their talent in a big way besides also facilitating the holding of mega sports events at the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.

IGP Jammu, Dilbagh Singh, while praising the organisers for holding the wrestling event at Katra, assured all possible support for the promotion of sports culture in the state, adding that such activities promote harmony, brotherhood and peace.

Joginder Kumar was awarded Silver Gurj, Patta and cash prize of Rs 61,000 and the runner-up got cash of Rs 41,000 awarded by the chief guest. District Administration have made elaborate arrangements of security, traffic regulations, drinking water and power supply.

Three Pakistanis Wrestlers to Take on One Indian Wrestler

Express Tribune
LAHORE: Pakistan will host this year’s Indo-Pak Dangal with as many as three Pakistan wrestlers to take on a single Indian opponent Jagroob Singh in various segments from September 23 in Gujranwala.

The opening stage will feature Umar Pahlawan going head-to-head with Singh followed by Rustame Pakistan Usman Majeed taking on the same opponent in an arm-wrestling contest in Lahore. In the third stage, to be held in Bahawalpur, it will be former Rustame Pakistan Bashir Bhola Bhala taking on Singh in the series finale.

The event was postponed last year due to non-issuance of the No Objection Certificate from the Indian and Pakistani governments. The last Rustame Indo-Pak Dangal, under the banner of `Mission dosti’, was held in India where as many as nine Pakistani wrestlers took part.

British wrestlers add muscle to Katra meet

The Tribune
Katra, August 5
The Mission Dosti International Indo-Pak Dangal, organised every year during Navratra Festival at Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, is set to become a truly international triangular competition this year with participation of the British wrestlers for the first time in this biggest wrestling event of Jammu & Kashmir.

Shiv Kumar Sharma, president, J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association and Member J&K Sports Council, confirmed this to The Tribune. “We have received confirmation about participation of three British wrestlers in the event,” he said. “We hope that their participation gives a boost to our efforts of making this event truly global in the coming years.”

Adding to its stature of an international event will be the increased prize money of rupees one lakh this time for the winner. Earlier the winner used to get Rs. 51,000 along with traditional Gurj and Patta. The event will be held on the traditional mud akhara at Vivekananda Stadium, Katra.

The event attracts roughly 30,000 spectators, but the organisers expect the number to increase this time. Sharma said that besides Pakistan, wrestlers from northern states of India including J&K, UP, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh would participate.

Besides contributions by the local traders and general public, the one day competition is funded by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, J&K Tourism and the Municipal Committee, Katra. Though the event originated as a local dangal in 1983 at a cost of Rs. 15,000, it became part of the annual Navratra Festival in 2005 and acquired its present name.

It is a measure of its increasing status that the estimated cost of organising it has increased to Rs. 10 lakh.