Srinagar, Sept 20: Jammu and Kashmir is all set to host the National Wrestling Championship for the first time on Friday.
Nearly 600 wrestlers from across the country are expected to take part in the three-day championship, which is scheduled to be held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Indoor Stadium.
"The organisers are expecting around 600 wrestlers, both male and female, from different states to participate in championship", Minister of State for Sports Babu Singh reporters.
"It is a matter of pride for Jammu and Kashmir, as the 26th National Junior Boys Wrestling Championship and ninth Women's National Wrestling Championship is being held in the state for the first time," he said.
Twenty six state teams and two sports boards, service Sports Control Board and Railway Sports Control Board, are expected to participate in the three-day event which would be
officiated by 200 officials including technical staff, judges and referees from different states.
The minister said holding the championship in the state would go a long way in promoting the traditional sport of the country here which had fallen out of popularity over the past few years.
"Although wrestling was not very popular sport among the youth of the valley, the association expects to generate lot of support for the game", Director General of Police Kuldeep Khuda, who is also the President of Jammu and Kashmir Wrestling Association, said.
"We are hopeful that some youth will take up the sport after the championship is held in the valley," he added.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, September 20, 2007, 00:00