Jammu,September 22 (Vijay Kumar) – The prestigious title of Rustum-i-Indo Pak dangal (Wrestling) was organised under the banner of ‘Mission dosti’(Mission friendship) tournament at Vivekanada Sports Stadium Katra during the on going Navratra Festival-2009 on Tuesday evening. Mission Dosti , an Indo Pak Wrestling contest which was fifth in series was organized by the Indian Style Wrestling Association of India in collaboration Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and Municipal Committee Katra.
Team of Indian wrestlers overpowered their Pakistani counterparts to win the prestigious title of Rustum-i-Indo Pak dangal.After witnessing three straight fights the jam packed Vivekananda stadium in Katra came to life when Indian wrestler Hitesh Yadav matted his Pakistani counterpart Bashir Bhola of Sialkote Pakistan to win the title.
Out of a total number of four matches the Pakistani wrestler Mohd Ali won the first battle. He was cheered by large number of local people as he crushed his Indian counterpart.The second match was won by an Indian wrestler while Pakistani wrestler Abdul Rehman was declared retired hurt in the third match.The fourth and the final title match was won by Hitesh Yadav. The Pakistani player Md Bashir was not happy with the decisions taken by the match umpire and expressed his unhappiness after he lost the match.
The title was awarded to Hitesh Yadav by MLA Reasi Baldev Sharma in the absence of minister of Sports.The winner of the title was handed over a cash prize of Rs 51,000 and a silver momento. Several hundred local residents and huge rush of pilgrims witnessed the wrestling tournament.
The Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, R.S.Chib was the chief guest on the occasion who formally declared the wrestling championship open by releasing pigeons and tri coloured balloons in the air.
Prominent among those who were present on the occasion include President, Indian Style Wrestling Association of India, Ram. Asrey Yadav, Addl. Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Dr. M.K.Bandhari, District Development Commissioner, Reasi, , Pandurang Pole, Senior Superintendent of Police, S.M Sahani,Director Tourism,Jammu, Anand Jain, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Addl.S.P. Katra, Ashok Sharma, President, J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma and members of Navratra Festival Committee
The President of Jammu Kashmir Indian style wrestling assocaition Shiv Kua Sharma said," the aim behind organising Mission dosti tournament is to promote sporting ties between India and Pakistan.
Sharma said the event is gaining popularity with each year and has become one of the favoirte events for the organisers of the nine day long Navratra festival.He said players from both the countires should be allowed to frequently travel across the border to play tournaments in order to promote sporting ties.
He further disclosed that Indo Pak Wrestling contest was started under the banner of “Indo Pak Mission Dosti Dangal” in 2005 to improve relations between the two neighboring nations.