If all goes well, wrestlers Susheel Kumar and Yogeeshwar Dutt who brought laurels to India, winning silver and bronze medals respectively in the recently concluded Olympics, may open Dasara wrestling tournaments, scheduled to start from October 16 in the city.
Informing this to media here on Saturday, chairman of Dasara Wrestling Sub-Committee M N Giridhar said they were making all efforts to invite the top wrestlers of the nation for the bouts scheduled to be held up to October 21.
Like previous years, D Devaraja Urs Multipurpose Stadium beside Dasara exhibition grounds will be the action arena. Keeping in line with the tradition, the bouts will begin with Nada Kusti on October 16 at 3.30 pm.
Point kustis (wrestling) will be conducted daily up to 3 pm, while nada kusti will be conducted from 3.30 pm onwards. The other two prominent events; 31st state-level men’s wrestling and fifth state-level women’s wrestling are also planned.
National-level event
The national-level events in both the categories will be held on October 19 and October 20.
Superintendent of police R Dileep, who is also the Dasara deputy special officer, said the only hiccup that could cast a spell on holding the events with all pomp and glory is that of funds.
Funds
The district administration has granted Rs 20 lakh this year against Rs 25 lakh last year. The SP said that the sub-committee needs at least of Rs 30 lakh. The officer also clarified that he was aware of the earlier decision to celebrate the festival in a simple manner, owing to drought. Still, it requires more funds to conduct the tournament in the best possible manner.
He has apprised the deputy commissioner P S Vastrad who is also the Dasara special officer, seeking more funds.