EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 10: The 81st Jhajjar Kotli Kesari Vishal Dangal, organized by Jhajjar Kotli Dangal Committee under the aegis of J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, shall take place on April 16 at Jhajjar Kotli in tehsil and district Jammu.
This was decided in a meeting of the organising committee held under the chairmanship of Shiv Kumar Sharma, president J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association. Other members who attended the meeting included Bishan Dass, Durga Dass Thappa, Kaka Ram Falgota, Puran Chand Baru, Madan Mohan Dubey, Ajit Singh, Prabh Dayal, Swarn Singh Charak, Bashir Mohd Malik, Magger Singh, Nar Singh. Tara Mani, Bodh Raj and Jaswant Singh.Shiv Kumar Sharma, who is also treasurer of the Indian Style Wrestling Association of India, said that the event is organised every year on the birthday of Dr Karan Singh, Member Parliament. He further informed that all the wrestlers who come over their will get chance to compete may be they are local are outsiders. All the Wrestlers will get both sides bus fare in addition to handsome cash prize Sharma said vetern wrestlers, ustad and technical officials will also be honored.Pappu lakri, Vijay Singh (Biju), Mohd. Fareed, Bishan Dass, Durga Dass Thappa, Kaka Ram Falgotra, Babu Ram Pathania have been appointed as technical officials for the smooth conduct of the event. An expenditure of Rs 60,000 is likely to be incurred in this one day long competition. The whole amount has been generated by Jhajjar Kotli Dangal Committee by means of donation and contribution.
Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLA Nagrota, has consented to be the chief guest in this dangal while Shiv Kumar Sharma shall preside.
Meanwhile, wrestlers who are interested to take part in this dangal can still contact Shiv Kumar Sharma (94191 61880) to confirm their entries.
Apr 11, 2010
WRESTLERS TRAINING AT GURU CHAND ROOP'S AKHARA
Wrestlers train a Guru Chand Roop's akhara in Azadpur. The elderly guru-ji still does most of the coaching himself. In the video he is heard in the background shouting instructions as the wrestlers practice takedowns.
DERA KESARI DANGAL on APRIL 13
JAMMU, Apr 09: The 19th Dera Kesari Vishal Dangal shall take place on April 13 at Dera Baba Banda Bahadur, 25 kms from Katra in Tehsil and District Reasi.
The decision for organizing the said Vishal Dangal was taken in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Shiv Kumar Sharma, president J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association. The members who attended the meeting were Baba Jatinder Paul Singh Sodhi Gaddi Nasheen, Dera Baba Banda Bahadur and Baba Banda Bahadur Sikh Samardai, Malik Ram Lubhaya Paruthi (Chairman) Sant Kumar Juneja ( President), V.P. Makar, Sanjay Kumar and Mohan Singh.
Shiv Kumar Sharma, who is also Treasurer Indian Style wrestling Association of India, said that vishal dangal is being organized by Dera Baba Banda Bahadur Dangal Committee and Baba Banda Bahadur Sikh Samardai under the aegis of J&K India Style Wrestling Association.
Shiv Kumar Sharma while giving the details of the event said that about 60-65 wrestlers from within and outside the state are going to take part in the vishal dangal.
He further informed that wrestlers from Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Roun- Domail, Ramnagar, Bahmag, Reasi, Jhajjer Kotli as also those from BSF and J&K Police. A good number of wrestlers from outside state are also likely to take part in this vishal dangal.
Meanwhile, a handout issued here informed that an expenditure of Rs 85,000 likely to be incurred in this one day competition. The whole amount is generated by Dera Baba Banda Bahadur and Baba Banda Bahadur Sikh Samaradai.
Capt Lehar Singh (Retd), Mohd Fareed, Master Ram Krishan (Retd) Vijay Singh, Lachman Singh. Pappu Lakri have been invited as technical officials for the smooth conduct of the competition.
The decision for organizing the said Vishal Dangal was taken in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Shiv Kumar Sharma, president J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association. The members who attended the meeting were Baba Jatinder Paul Singh Sodhi Gaddi Nasheen, Dera Baba Banda Bahadur and Baba Banda Bahadur Sikh Samardai, Malik Ram Lubhaya Paruthi (Chairman) Sant Kumar Juneja ( President), V.P. Makar, Sanjay Kumar and Mohan Singh.
Shiv Kumar Sharma, who is also Treasurer Indian Style wrestling Association of India, said that vishal dangal is being organized by Dera Baba Banda Bahadur Dangal Committee and Baba Banda Bahadur Sikh Samardai under the aegis of J&K India Style Wrestling Association.
Shiv Kumar Sharma while giving the details of the event said that about 60-65 wrestlers from within and outside the state are going to take part in the vishal dangal.
He further informed that wrestlers from Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Roun- Domail, Ramnagar, Bahmag, Reasi, Jhajjer Kotli as also those from BSF and J&K Police. A good number of wrestlers from outside state are also likely to take part in this vishal dangal.
Meanwhile, a handout issued here informed that an expenditure of Rs 85,000 likely to be incurred in this one day competition. The whole amount is generated by Dera Baba Banda Bahadur and Baba Banda Bahadur Sikh Samaradai.
Capt Lehar Singh (Retd), Mohd Fareed, Master Ram Krishan (Retd) Vijay Singh, Lachman Singh. Pappu Lakri have been invited as technical officials for the smooth conduct of the competition.
Apr 10, 2010
WRESTLING DANGAL IN MEMORY OF BHIM SINGH
By Deepak Ansuia Prasad
A big dangal was held at Rampur Kasna village in Uttar Pradesh on April 7, in memory of the great wrestler Bhim Singh, who was an Arjun awardee. Here are some photos of the competition.
A big dangal was held at Rampur Kasna village in Uttar Pradesh on April 7, in memory of the great wrestler Bhim Singh, who was an Arjun awardee. Here are some photos of the competition.
Apr 6, 2010
KUSHTI - SALVAGING OUR LOST HERITAGE
The Nation Sunday Plus
By Emanuel Sarfraz
In the urban congestion outside the Walled City only some open spaces called akhaaras (wrestling rings or mud pits) remain. In the immensely dense neighbourhood wherein roaring whole sale business of semi precious stones continues on the one side while the hundreds of shops selling all kind of household items the Champions Wrestling Club near Lohari Gate housing the traditional akhaara is like an island of peace amidst the roaring sea of business activity.
Kushti (traditional wrestling) is a 3,000 years old martial art.
It is like a relic of shared Aryan, Persian and Mughal traditions. It is the antecedent of the Greco-Roman style. The gladiators and the professional wrestlers used almost the same exercises that have been followed here in sub-continent long before their arrival in the Roman Empire. Akhaaras have always been there for ages in Lahore and other cities and towns. But these hallmarks of the city are now becoming a rarity. Lahore not very long ago boasted of more than a hundred akhaaras with thousands of people engaged in pehlwani and kushti (traditional wrestling).
Now only a few akhaaras are left. Other nations like the highly capitalist Japanese have preserved their cultural heritage. Sumo wrestlers are patronised by the government and honoured in the society. Sumo wrestlers are provided special funds to ensure that they maintain their good diet. Sumo wrestling thrives because it is considered an important part of the cultural heritage.
Kushti (wrestling bout) and pehlwani (the way a pehlwan (wrestler) lives) though essentially part of our culture have lately been ignored.
Even though the sports are not given due promotion in the country, the sportsmen continue to bring accolades for the country. Sohail Rashid, who is coach for the Wapda team of wrestlers as well at the Champions Club in Lohari talking to Sunday Plus said his coached wrestlers have won 17 medals in the last three months.
"Neither the media nor the government has given them due recognition and honour. In the Commonwealth Wrestling Games held in December 2009 at Jallundhur, India, our wrestlers won seven bronze and one silver medal. At the Youth Commonwealth Wrestling Championship we won one bronze and three silver medals. At the South Asian Games held in Dhaka our wrestlers won two gold, silver and two bronze medals. Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Ali, Salman Butt, Tehseen and Usman Shahid all shone at the event and proved that Pakistani wrestlers are second to none. They need patronage of the government," Sohail said.
The ideal age for the training of pehlwan is in his teens. 14 or 15 years old youngsters are considered ideal for grooming as pehlwan. There was a time when more than a hundred men took training at the akhaara at the time. Not so any more. The number has dwindled to 20 or 25. Akhaaras once home to great wrestlers now attract professional wrestlers who work different institutions, students and those people who want to continue with the family tradition.
At the Akhaara run by Babar Pehlwan the 22 disciples practicing the ancient art come from different backgrounds. Ahmed Butt is MBA student. He is working hard to prepare for the Under 19 All Pakistan Wrestling Championship. Ali Shahzad Butt is an I Com student studying at Punjab College. Robin Masih is an employee of Wapda. When questioned by the scribe they all resolved to continue with the ancient tradition of wrestling. "The sport teaches discipline and keeps you physically fit. There is no chance that we will ever leave this sport", they maintained.
The pehlwans practiced at akhaaras early in the morning and in the evening. Now since full time wrestlers are few in number the practice sessions are held only in the evening. For the pehlwans the rectangular akhaara that is daily softened by ploughing or digging is a sacred place. No one is allowed to enter the place wearing shoes or any other footwear. The pehlwans start the practice by first running down the shower and then applying oil on their bodies. When their bodies are glistening with oil they put soil on their bodies and then start all the different kinds of exercises.
READ MORE HERE
By Emanuel Sarfraz
In the urban congestion outside the Walled City only some open spaces called akhaaras (wrestling rings or mud pits) remain. In the immensely dense neighbourhood wherein roaring whole sale business of semi precious stones continues on the one side while the hundreds of shops selling all kind of household items the Champions Wrestling Club near Lohari Gate housing the traditional akhaara is like an island of peace amidst the roaring sea of business activity.
Kushti (traditional wrestling) is a 3,000 years old martial art.
It is like a relic of shared Aryan, Persian and Mughal traditions. It is the antecedent of the Greco-Roman style. The gladiators and the professional wrestlers used almost the same exercises that have been followed here in sub-continent long before their arrival in the Roman Empire. Akhaaras have always been there for ages in Lahore and other cities and towns. But these hallmarks of the city are now becoming a rarity. Lahore not very long ago boasted of more than a hundred akhaaras with thousands of people engaged in pehlwani and kushti (traditional wrestling).
Now only a few akhaaras are left. Other nations like the highly capitalist Japanese have preserved their cultural heritage. Sumo wrestlers are patronised by the government and honoured in the society. Sumo wrestlers are provided special funds to ensure that they maintain their good diet. Sumo wrestling thrives because it is considered an important part of the cultural heritage.
Kushti (wrestling bout) and pehlwani (the way a pehlwan (wrestler) lives) though essentially part of our culture have lately been ignored.
Even though the sports are not given due promotion in the country, the sportsmen continue to bring accolades for the country. Sohail Rashid, who is coach for the Wapda team of wrestlers as well at the Champions Club in Lohari talking to Sunday Plus said his coached wrestlers have won 17 medals in the last three months.
"Neither the media nor the government has given them due recognition and honour. In the Commonwealth Wrestling Games held in December 2009 at Jallundhur, India, our wrestlers won seven bronze and one silver medal. At the Youth Commonwealth Wrestling Championship we won one bronze and three silver medals. At the South Asian Games held in Dhaka our wrestlers won two gold, silver and two bronze medals. Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Ali, Salman Butt, Tehseen and Usman Shahid all shone at the event and proved that Pakistani wrestlers are second to none. They need patronage of the government," Sohail said.
The ideal age for the training of pehlwan is in his teens. 14 or 15 years old youngsters are considered ideal for grooming as pehlwan. There was a time when more than a hundred men took training at the akhaara at the time. Not so any more. The number has dwindled to 20 or 25. Akhaaras once home to great wrestlers now attract professional wrestlers who work different institutions, students and those people who want to continue with the family tradition.
At the Akhaara run by Babar Pehlwan the 22 disciples practicing the ancient art come from different backgrounds. Ahmed Butt is MBA student. He is working hard to prepare for the Under 19 All Pakistan Wrestling Championship. Ali Shahzad Butt is an I Com student studying at Punjab College. Robin Masih is an employee of Wapda. When questioned by the scribe they all resolved to continue with the ancient tradition of wrestling. "The sport teaches discipline and keeps you physically fit. There is no chance that we will ever leave this sport", they maintained.
The pehlwans practiced at akhaaras early in the morning and in the evening. Now since full time wrestlers are few in number the practice sessions are held only in the evening. For the pehlwans the rectangular akhaara that is daily softened by ploughing or digging is a sacred place. No one is allowed to enter the place wearing shoes or any other footwear. The pehlwans start the practice by first running down the shower and then applying oil on their bodies. When their bodies are glistening with oil they put soil on their bodies and then start all the different kinds of exercises.
READ MORE HERE
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