Mysuru: Ahead of the Dasara Wrestling competition starting on Sept. 26, the Dasara Wrestling Sub Committee started the pairing of wrestlers at the B.V. Karanth Ranga Mandira at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds, here yesterday.

The officials and the committee members made a total 152 pairs considering the age, weight of the wrestlers and other guidelines. The wrestling competition will be held from Sept. 21 to Sept. 26.

The committee for the first time had organised various competitions including lifting of the mace, sit-ups, push-ups, boulder lifting competitions. While Pahilwan Narayan received the first place in sit-ups competition, Pahilwan Ravi Nagraj emerged second and Pahilwan Ullas won the third place.

In the mace lifting competition, Pahilwan Lambodhara emerged victorious, Pahilwan Shabbir Khan of Mysuru won second place and Pahilwan Vikas of Veeranagere won the third place.  Pahilwan Lambodhara also won boulder lifting competition and was followed by Pahiwan Narayan of Ganjam in second and Pahilwan Manju also from Ganjam in third place. The committee will also organised Chamundi Hill step climbing competition on Sept. 26.

In an effort to encourage the wrestlers, the committee for the first time has organised point wrestling competition along with the traditional wrestling competition. The inauguration of the competition will be held on Sept. 21. At 8 am, the same day, the wrestlers will be weighed and the actual tournament commences on Sept. 22.

The 9th State Level Wrestling competition for women commences on Sept. 23 while the 34th State Level Wrestling competition for men and boys will be held on Sept. 24-25. This year, the committee has also organised panja kusti (arm wresting) which is scheduled on Sept. 25 between 8 am to 12 noon. The competition will be held in different weight categories including less then 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg, 85kg, 90kg, 100kg and 110kg for men and for women it  will be held in less than 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg and above 80kg categories. The competitions held yesterday was inaugurated SP Ravi D. Channannavar. Assistant SP Mohammad Sujeetha and others were present.