'Dangal' draws crowd in J-K's Ramban after 5 years; Iranian wrestler lifts title

Iranian wrestler Ahmad Mirza Puria defeated Bupinder Ajnala from Punjab in a ‘dangal' organised in this hilly district of Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of five years, organisers said.

The wrestling competition, held for the first time after Covid-19, saw over 50 wrestlers in action at the event organised by Dangal Committee Chanderkote in collaboration with the police and Army, drawing hundreds of enthusiastic sport lovers.

This was the fifth ‘dangal' in the district and attracted athletes from different parts of the country and Iran as well, a member of the organising committee said.

Ramban MLA Arjun Singh Raju thanked the organizers, especially police officer Majid Ali, and said the event successfully conveyed two messages outside the world that the security situation in the Union Territory is peaceful in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor to destroy terror infrastructure across the border.

“Our forces are very strong and there is no danger. The event including the participation of foreign wrestlers was a great reply to terrorists who wanted to destroy our brotherhood,” the National Conference legislator said.

He asked the local youth to take up sports and stay away from drugs.

Ramban Senior Superintendent of Police, Kulbir Singh, expressed happiness over the large attendance of people at the event.