12th National Kurash Championship: Haryana win big as overall Kurash champions, Delhi, Punjab runners-up
The two-day 12th National Junior Kurash Championship (boys’ and girls’) concluded at the indoor stadium of Vidyavati International School, Malkwal, near here late last evening.
The championship was organised by the state Amateur Kurash Association. As many as 700 boys and girls from 24 states across the country participated in the championship. Haryana was declared the overall champion, while Delhi and Punjab were named the first and second runners-up, respectively.
In the under-20 and 17 age categories (boys’ and girls’) wrestling players from Haryana, Delhi and Punjab won gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The host, Vidyavati International Wrestling Academy, Malkwal (Nurpur) won silver and bronze medals in the under-20 (boys’) category, and a bronze medal in the under-17 (girls’) category.
The Kurash competitions were held for two age groups and eight weight categories.
State Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania presided over the concluding ceremony of the championship. Addressing the participants, Pathania said sports activities inculcated discipline and good social behaviour.
He exhorted the players to stay away from drugs, and direct their energy in the right direction.
He said he was pleased to know that such an event had been organised in the state, for the first time.
Our society would become strong only when the youth came forward in promoting and participating in sports activities, he added.
Extending his best wishes to the players, Pathania said the state government was making every possible effort to develop sports infrastructure in the state. The Speaker honoured the winners — awarding them medals, trophies and citations.
He also congratulated former minister and BBMB Group of Institutes managing director Rakesh Pathania for successfully hosting the national event. Former local MLA Ajay Mahajan was also present on the occasion. The championship was conducted under the supervision of Indian Kurash Association president Ravi Kapoor, and Himachal Pradesh Amateur Association president Dr Surender Singh Kulata.
