![Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai and Dangal Management Committee posing along with winner wrestler at Moungri. Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai and Dangal Management Committee posing along with winner wrestler at Moungri.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/page10-1-16-696x476.jpg)
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, May 17: Wrestler Yuvraj of Akhnoor lifted 24th Annual Bhamag Kesari Dangal title by defeating Usman of Mathura (UP) in a close contest that lasted for 18 minutes at Sardabar ,Kalsote (Moungri) in district Udhampur today.
Dangal was organized by J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association in active support of J&K Police, J&K Bank, J&K Tourism, Youth Services and Sports, District Administration Udhampur and Bhamag Kesari Dangal Committee under the overall supervision of president J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association Shiv Kumar Sharma and president Udhampur District Om Parkash Verma.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai was the chief guest, who encouraged the men and women wrestlers by giving away the cash prizes and witnessed the main bouts of Dangal. ADDC Rajinder Singh, Tehsildar Moungri Arushi Saberwal, former Municipal Council Udhampur Chairman Dr Yogesh Gupta, DDC member Panchari Jasveer Singh, J&K Bank Branch Manager Maneer Singh and DySP Panchari Bhatto Choudhery were the guests of honour.
Total 39 bouts were played in this Dangal and cash prizes amounting Rs 175,000 were distributed among the winners and runner –up wrestlers. Shiv Kumar Sharma contributed Rs 11,000 as financial assistance to the organizer and Dr Yogesh Gupta contributed Rs 5,000. The winner of 1st malli main bout wrestler Yuvraj was presented with cash prize of Rs 8,000 along with traditional “ Gurj (Gadda) and Patta” while runner-up wrestler Usman got Rs 7,000.
In the 2nd malli bout Sunil of Kot Bhalwal Jammu defeated Irfan of Basantgarh. Kulbir Singh of Kot Bhalwal beat Teja of Mathura (UP), Kharpu of Jammu beat Balwan Singh of Kalka Akhara Reasi and Kaka of R.S Pura beat Sonu of Amritsar. In girl bouts Zahida of (Pouni) beat Diksha (Pouni), Kajal of Pouni beat Reema of Rajouri and Zahida of Pouni beat Mahi of Teryath.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Saloni Rai while distributing cash prizes among the wrestlers specially appreciated the initiative of girl wrestlers and their coach Sanjeev Sharma for excellent performance in indigenous sport of wrestling which is inspiring many girls to adopt sports as career.
Advocate Swantanter Dev Kotwal, Chairman Lord Shiv-Parvati Caves Shrine (Moungri) Development Board, former Councilor Ashwani Khajuria, Preeti Khajuria, Naib Tehsildar Mahesh Singh, District Information Officer, Rajinger Dingra, District Youth Services and Sports Officer Ramesh Chander Mishra, SHO Panchari Deepak Sharma and Vice President J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association Varinder Badyal were the prominent persons present on the occasion.