Mysuru witnessed an electrifying start to the highly anticipated Dasara wrestling tournament as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah officially inaugurated the event on Monday. Held at the spacious Sri D. Devaraj Urs Multipurpose Stadium, adjacent to the Dasara Exhibition grounds, the Chief Minister personally offered words of encouragement and a supportive pat on the back to the eager wrestlers, setting a spirited tone for the competitions.
Following the inauguration, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took the time to further inspire the participants. This year’s tournament proudly features two distinct and thrilling categories: the traditional ‘Nada Kusti’ (soil wrestling) and the more modern ‘Mat Wrestling’ (Point Kusti), promising a diverse display of skill and strength.
The opening day delivered immediate excitement. In a gripping 22-minute match, Mysuru’s own Vikas from Mahadevapura emerged victorious, defeating Kiran from Davanagere Sports Complex. The women’s category also saw a swift and decisive win, with Belagavi’s Nandini overcoming Bengaluru’s Pushpa in an impressive 1 minute and 10 seconds. Another memorable clash featured Athani’s Suresh Lankoti against Davangere’s Hanumanth Vitthal Bevinamara, captivating the audience.
Distinguished guests present at the event included Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture K. Venkatesh, Chamarajanagar MP Sunil Bose, MLAs A.R. Krishnamurthy, Ravishankar D., T.S. Srivatsa, and Anil Chikkamadu, along with MLC D. Thimmayya, and Karnataka Exhibition Authority Chairman Ayub Khan, among other dignitaries.
The stakes are high for the participating athletes. Champions in the mat wrestling categories will vie for prestigious titles such as Dasara Kishore (for wrestlers weighing 57–65 kg), Dasara Kesari (for 74–86 kg), and Dasara Kanteerava (for those weighing 86 kg and above). Women athletes competing in the 57–62 kg category will be honored with the coveted Dasara Kishori award. Meanwhile, contenders in the traditional Nada Kusti bouts will battle it out for historic honors, including the Mayor’s Cup, the Sahukar Channaiah Cup, and the revered Mysuru Wadiyar Cup.