![Chief Guest Ajay Nanda posing along with winner of 26th Shiv Khori Kesari Dangal title on Sunday at Reasi. Chief Guest Ajay Nanda posing along with winner of 26th Shiv Khori Kesari Dangal title on Sunday at Reasi.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/page10-2-5-696x338.jpg)
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
REASI, Mar 10: The 26th Shiv Khori Kesari Annual Dangal was organised at the Ransoo base camp of the holy shrine on the eve of Maha Shivratri.
The Dangal which is locally known as ‘Chinj’ was organized by J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association in support of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, District Administration Reasi, Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board (SSKSB) and Shiv Khori Dangal Committee under the overall supervision of President J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association Shiv Kumar Sharma, DDC member Kewal Krishan Sharma and Sarpanch Bhagwan Singh.
Former Minister, Ajay Nanda was Chief Guest on the occasion and he was accompanied by former Joint Secretary J&K State Sports Council, Shiv Kumar Sharma.
ADDC Reasi S.S. Samlyal, Chief Education Officer Reasi Mustaq Ahmed, Sanjay Sahani of Delhi, DySP Neeraj Kadyar and DySP Vishal Sharma were the guests of honour.
Shiv Kumar Sharma appreciated Director Tourism Jammu, Vivekanand Rai for granting Rs 1,00,000, Deputy Commissioner Reasi Vishesh Paul Mahajan for Rs 50,000 and from Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board and Sanjay Sahni of Delhi contributed Rs 25,000 as financial assistance to the organizers.
Shiv Kumar Sharma said 60 bouts were played during the Dangal in which local wrestlers and wrestlers from UP, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab participated in which wrestler Pavinder of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh clinched the title of 26th Shiv Khori Kesari Dangal and he was awarded with cash award of Rs 13,000 along with traditional “Gurj and Patta” while runner up wrestler Deepak Kakran of Guru Hanumn Akhara Delhi was given Rs 12,000.
The second main bout was fought between Asman of Mathura and Surjeet Singh of J&K Police of Reasi. Wrestler Asman was awarded with cash award of Rs 8,000 while runner up wrestler Surjeet Singh got Rs 7,000.
Third main bout was won by wrestler Balkar Singh of Jammu who defeated wrestler Happy of Jalandhar (PB) and was given Rs 6,000 cash award.
Ajay Nanda emphasised the need of inculcating the spirit of sportsmanship. He also said the event has become a cemetery force between people of different regions and provides encouragement to the local wrestlers.