28
Sep

Dasara Wrestling Championship – 2024: Sub-Committee completes pairing of wrestlers

Mysuru: Dasara Wrestling Sub-Committee has started its preparations for this year’s Wrestling Championship. The Committee on Sunday formally completed the pairing of a total of 360 wrestlers for the competitions to be held in different age and weight categories at the P. Kalinga Rao Auditorium in Dasara Exhibition Ground premises.

District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, who inaugurated the event, said: “Mysuru style of wrestling was famous in country because of the support and contributions extended by the then Mysore Maharajas. People used to come in large numbers to watch Pailwan Rudra Mooga and later Pailwans Balaji, Nanjangud Nanjaiah, Nazarbad Narayan, Dildar Riyaz, Mukunda, Srikantu, Vijayendra, Krishna, Narasimhaswamy, R. Mahadevu among others taking on their opponents.”
Remembering the days when he was an MLA, Dr. Mahadevappa said that the then SP Munikrishna was instrumental in organising regular wrestling bouts bringing the various wrestling schools (akadas) together at the Chennaiah Grounds. “After I assumed the charge as Health Minister, there was a lot of development works that were carried out including the construction of a compound wall. Later, Dhruvanarayan with the help of CM Siddaramaiah developed the wrestling and multipurpose stadium in the name of former CM D. Devaraja Urs,” he said.
The District Minister also remembered the days when he, along with CM Siddaramaiah, visited the ground to watch the wrestling bouts. “Large crowd also gathered at Doddakere Maidan to watch football matches. However, in the recent years, people have lost interest in sports which brings everyone together. There is need to encourage sports, especially wrestling which is a part of Mysuru’s culture and heritage,” he added.