Wrestling is a traditional sport which has been patronised by the Maharajas of Mysuru. Traditional Naada Kusti bouts and Free-stule and Greco-Roman style wrestling competitions are held in Mysuru every year in the State and National level during the world-famous Dasara festival. Mysuru has produced well-known wrestlers like Shankar Chakravarthy, Mahesh Pandit, Rudra Mooga, Tiger Balaji and Lokesh, who have gone on to win laurels in the National level. On these lines, keeping the tradition alive is upcoming wrestler S. Rakesh from our city who has been consistently performing well in the National level. His bronze medal winning effort in the Sub-Junior National Championships held at Chittor, AP, has earned him selection to the Indian Sub-Junior Wrestling Camp to be held at Patiala in May. He is our ‘Star This Week.’

The 17-year-old S. Rakesh, son of Mysuru’s famous wrestler Shankar Chakravarthy (CAR Police HQ, Mysuru) and J. Latha, is a 1st PUC student of Marimallappa’s College, Mysuru. Encouraged by his parents, his uncle Mahesh Pandit and Venkatesh, he took up wrestling in 2013 when he attended the University of Mysore summer wrestling coaching camp. His talent was spotted by L. Manjappa, retd. SAI wrestling coach and till date he is being coached by him at the University wrestling arena at Lion’s Hall, Mysuru.

Rakesh, taking part in the 2016 National Sub-Junior Wrestling Championships in the Open category (100kg) in the Greco-Roman style, secured bronze medal in the Championship. He had wins over wrestler from Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh. He lost the third round against a Chandigarh wrestler and in the Repechage bout won against a Maharashtra wrestler to clinch the bronze medal.

In the State Sub-Junior Nationals held in January 2017 at Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru, Rakesh took part in the Open category (100kgs) and won 1st place in the Greco-roman category and earned selection for the Nationals.

Rakesh, representing Karnataka in the PU National Wrestling Championships-2017 held at Delhi in January 2017, won bronze medal in the Open category in the Greco-Roman section. He won bouts against wrestlers from Chandigarh & UP and lost to a Punjab wrestler in the third round. In the Repechage round he won against a Harayana wrestler and earned a bronze medal.

In the State PU Wrestling Championships held at Khanapur, Belagavi, Rakesh won gold in the Open category.

Earlier in 2015, he had represented Karnataka State in the School Nationals conducted by SGFI in Ujjain. He had won the gold medal in the State School Games held at Jhamkhandi, Bagalkot, in the 85kg category. In 2014, he represented the State in the Nationals held at Jharkhand and in the State Schools Championships held at Dharwad, he won gold in the freestyle 85kg category.

Rakesh is a hard-working wrestler and excels in his execution of different holds with quick reflexes. He aims to represent the country in the near future.