Haryana to promote wrestling competitions in akharas

TNN

CHANDIGARH: Haryana has decided to organize "akhara competitions" for wrestling regularly with a view to promoting such arenas which are in large number in the state. Cash awards for winners of state-level akhara competitions have been significantly increased. It was stated on Monday by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while unveiling the new sports policy - Haryana Physical Activities and Sports Policy 2015 - at a function organized at Rohtak on the occasion of birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

As per the new scheme, sportsperson securing first position at state level akhara kushti (wrestling) competition will now get Rs 5,100 instead of Rs 500. Grapplers finishing second and third will get Rs 3,100 and Rs 2,100, respectively, as against Rs 300 and Rs 200. Similarly, a sportsperson securing first position at state-level "kumar dangal" competition will now get Rs 51,000 instead of Rs 21,000. Wrestlers finishing second and third will receive Rs 31,000 and Rs 21,000, respectively, up from Rs 11,000 and Rs 5,000.

The wrestler securing first position in the state level "kesari dangal" competition will now get Rs 1.51 lakh instead of Rs 31,000. For second and third place finish, grapplers will pocket Rs 1 lakh and Rs 51,000, respectively, as against Rs 21,000 and Rs 11,000.