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Dasara wrestling to offer ‘thunder’ bouts

From Shankar Bennur DH News Service Mysore:

Wrestling admirers can have a gala time in Mysore as several renowned Nada Kusthi title holders from different parts of the State will converge to compete in Dasara wrestling competition.

The event will give an opportunity for upcoming as well as young wrestlers to display their skills in the ‘Akhadas’ (wrestling arenas).

The competition will begin from October 4. More than 146 wrestlers are competing in ‘Nada Kusthi’ category while an equal number of wrestlers will flex their muscles to achieve supremacy in weight category.

Promising wrestlers will have a chance to bag coveted titles such as Dasara Kishore, Dasara Kumar, Dasara Kesari, Dasara Kantheerava. They can also secure another top award Mysore Mayor Cup at the competition.

Venue not yet decided

However, the Dasara Wrestling Sub-committee is yet to decide on the venue for holding the competitions. Sahukar Channaiah Akhada and D Devaraj Urs Akhadas are the two wrestling arenas in Mysore. While Sahukar Channaiah Kusthi Akhada is a traditional wrestling Akhada, Urs Akhada is a modern wrestling place.

Last year, the venue was shifted from the traditional Sahukar Kusthi Akhada to the Devaraja Urs Akhada in the Dasara Exhibition grounds. The venue was shifted to accommodate more crowd.

The Committee Vice-president M D Srinivas told Deccan Herald that the ‘Kesari Kantheerava’ title will be conducted based on ‘Mar-pit’ (fight to finish) though the wrestling bouts are conducted as per the guidelines of the Wrestling Federation of India.

The winners of the competition, which will be held in five weight categories, will receive cash prizes besides silver maze and silk shawl.

Prizes

While Dasara Kantheerava awardee will receive cash prize of Rs 12,500, the winner of Dasara Kesari will get a cash award of Rs 10,000. The winners of the Dasara Kumar and Dasara Kishore will receive cash prize of Rs 7,500 and Rs 5,000 respectively.

The Mayor Cup, conducted for junior wrestlers, carries a cash prize of Rs 2,000. Wrestlers under 17 years can compete for the cup.

Srinivas said travel and dearness allowance will be given (TA/DA) to the participants. In an effort to restrict the event to the wrestlers from Karnataka, a minimum five years’ residence proof has been sought from the prospective participants.

SAHUKAR TITLE FOR BEST WRESTLER

A special prize will be given to the ‘best wrestler’ at this year’s Dasara Wrestling Competition. The best wrestler will be awarded with Sahukar Channaiah title. “This has been instituted to encourage people to take up wrestling since it is one of the oldest sports in India,” Vice-president of Dasara Wrestling Committee M D Srinivas says.