KATRA: Wrestler Ishaq (Lalu) of Bajrangi Akhara Jammu lifted 18th Annual Bhamag Kesari title by defeating Wrestler Babba of Kot Bhawal in a tough fight that lasted for 21 minutes at Sardabbar, Kalsote in block and Tehsil Moungri of District Udhampur.
Dangal was organised by J and K Indian Style Wrestling Association in collaboration with J&K Police Department, J and K Tourism Department, J&K Bank and Bhamag Kesari Dangal Committee under the overall supervision of President J and K Indian Style Wrestling Association Shiv Kumar Sharma and President District Udhampur Indian Style Wrestling Association Sunil Badyal.
Ajay Nanda, Minister for Finance and Planning, Information Technology, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs was the Chief Guest who gave away cash prizes to the winners and runner up wrestlers.
Joint Secretary J and K State Sports Council Shiv Kumar Sharma who is also Treasurer Indian Style Wrestling Association of India and Associate Vice-President Wrestling Federation of India presided over the function.
SSP Benam Tosh, Advocate Swantanter Dev Kotwal, Chairman Lord Shiva Paravati Caves Shrine (Moungri) and Executive Engineer PMGSY H.R Langeh were the Guests of Honour.
Prominent persons present on the occasion included Tehsildar Moungri who is also Mela Officer, Amit Kumar Verma, Retd. Headmaster R.S Manhas, Hans Raj Thakur, SHO Panchari Sanjay Abrol, Partap Krishan Sanmotra, Sarpanch Parbhat Singh, Pawan Kumar (Mandal Pradhan BJP), BDO Panchari S.K Katal and Ex. Wrestler Varinder Sharma.
In all 35 bouts were played in the one day long Dangal. Winner of main bout was awarded with cash prize of Rs 5,000 along with traditional Gurj and Patta by Ajay Nanda, SSP Benam Tosh and Shiv Kumar Sharma while runner-up wrestler Babba was awarded with Rs 4,000 by Swatanter Dev Kotwal, Suil Badyal and Hans Raj Thakur.
The second bout was won by Amir Khan of Bajrangi Akhara Jammu who defeated Panku of Jammu. Rs 4,000 as cash prize was awarded to Amir Khan while runner-up Wrestler Panku got Rs 2,000. Third bout was won by Javed Khan of Nargada who defeated Raj Kumar of UP. Rs 4,000was awarded to Javed Khan while Rs 1,000 was given to Raj Kumar.
Members of Bhamag Kesari Dangal Committee and Technical Officials who helped for conduct of this one day wrestling event were Advocate Swantanter Dev Kotwal, Hans Raj Thakur, Sunil Badyal, R.S. Manhas, Tulinder Kumar, Kartar Singh, Dheeraj Kesar, Laxhman Dass Katoch and Murli Dhar (Munna).
The minister made an appeal to the young generation to adopt wrestling for healthier and bright future.