The three-day Bharat Kesari Dangal-2017 to be organised at War Heroes’ Memorial Stadium in Ambala on the occasion of Shaheedi Diwas of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, will begin on March 21.
Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki would inaugurate the Bharat Kesari Dangal-2017 while Chief Minister Manohar lal would be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on March 23.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Anil Vij, said that the dangal would have ‘Mahari laddo’ as its mascot.
Vij said that about 80 wrestlers, including 21 international-level wrestlers, would participate in the dangal. Top eight teams in senior national wrestling championships divided into two pools would compete in 160 bouts of freestyle wrestling during the competition. As many as 16 coaches, including four international coaches and 25 officials of Wrestling Federation of India would also be present during the dangal.
He said that while pool A would feature Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, pool B would include Railways, Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. Entry to the stadium, which can accommodate 7,000 spectators, would be free.
The Minister said that winners in each of the total ten categories, including five each for men and women, would get cash prizes of Rs 10 lakh each. Runners-up would get Rs five lakh each, whereas cash prizes of Rs 2.5 lakh each and Rs one lakh each would be given away to those placing third and fourth. For the first time, coaches of the winners in each category would get Rs one lakh each and those of runners-up would get Rs 50,000 each. The weight categories among men are 57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg and 97-plus kg, and among women are 48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg and 69 to 75 kg.
The bouts would be held as per international rules and National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) would conduct dope tests on each participant, said he.
Vij said as per the announcement made by the Haryana Government, Olympic medallist, PV Sindhu would be presented with a reward of Rs 50 lakh, whereas athlete, lalita Babbar and gymnast, Deepa Karmakar would be given Rs 15 lakh each during the dangal. Besides this, cash awards to the tune of Rs 46.58 crore would be given away to 1,876 sportspersons from Haryana who participated in various international and national events. Besides, 42 outstanding wrestlers would also be honoured on the occasion, he added.
A laser show based on the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev would be organised at the concluding function of the dangal, which is being organised as part of the Swarna Jayanti of the State. The family members of the martyrs have been specially invited on the occasion, he added.