Wrestling has a long history and heritage. Now-a-days, it has been restricted to Dasara. At first, there is a need to rejuvenate garadis (traditional wresting schools) for which discussions should be held with the coaches. A discussion will be held with CM Siddaramaiah soon after the Dasara Festival to chalk-out a programme to bring back the glorious days of wrestling. —District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa

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.

MLA T.S. Srivatsa, Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) Chairman Ayub Khan, DC G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, DCPs M. Muthuraju and S. Jahnavi, KEA CEO Rudresh, Wrestling Sub-Committee Dy. Special Officer & ASP L. Nagesh and Pailwans were present.