Sanwal Jhakar Pehlwan of Multan defeated Awais Tairanwala Pehlwan of Sahiwal in a closely fought 34-minute bout to win Rustam-e-Punjab Dangal at Punjab Stadium on Sunday.
Overall a hefty prize money of Rs 26 lakh was distributed among all the participating wrestlers. Sanwal Jhakar Pehlwan was given a cash prize of 3.5 lakh rupees while the runner up Awais Tairanwala Pehlwan pocketed Rs 2.5 lakh cash prize.
The title of Sher-e-Punjab went to Shahzad Pachar Pehlwan, who knocked out Adnan Tairanwala Pehlwan convincingly. Both the wrestlers were awarded a cash prize of Rs one lakh each.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail was the chief guest on this occasion. He awarded the winner's mace to Sanwal Jhakar Pehlwan. Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar, Director Youth Affairs Rana Nadeem Anjum, Deputy Directors Zahoor Ahmed and Ataur Rahman, World Beach Wrestling Champion Inam Butt, Sher-e-Punjab Shahid Khoey Wala, President Punjab Wrestling Association Arshad Sattar, were also present on this occasion.
Talking to media, Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said that Rustam-e-Punjab Dangal is a very important event of our Annual Sports Calendar. “Our all sports events are being organised as per the schedule of Annual Sports Calendar and as per our schedule next Rustam-e-Punjab Dangal will be staged on Feb 4 next year”.
Elaborating more events of Annual Sports Calendar, Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said that we will also hold fastest athlete competition, u-16 sports events, senior sports events are now held as per our Annual Sports Calendar programme. “It is a comprehensive Annual Sports Calendar with complete timeline and dates. This Annual Sports Calendar has also been made part of Punjab’s first ever sports policy”.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail further said that now our all players including juniors, seniors and amateur players know about their respective sports events, cash prize and scholarship etc. “All members of Sports Board Punjab really put in extra-ordinary hard work in the preparation of Annual Sports Calendar Programme”.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said our strategy is focused on player development programme. “We have submitted our strategy to govt in which we have allocated 40 percent of total budget for players and sports activities”.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail congratulated the title winner wrestlers in Rising Punjab Games 2024. It is worth mentioning that the Rising Punjab Games were organized as the first event of Sports Board Punjab’s Annual Sports Calendar Programme.
As many as 35 bouts were competed in the presence of thousands of passionate fans in Rustam-e-Punjab Dangal which was held under the arrangements of Sports Board Punjab (SBP).
Top national wrestlers demonstrated their desi kushti skills in their respective bouts of Rustam-e-Punjab Dangal. In other major fights, Malu Pehlwan vs Tayyab Pehlwan, Junaid Pachar Pehlwan beat Moeen Ali Pehlwan, Sajawal Goonga Pehlwan beat Irfan Pehlwan, Current Pehlwan beat Qamar Pehlwan, Gullu Pehlwan beat Nauman Pehlwan, Javed Pehlwan beat Saifullah Pehlwan, Hasan Pehlwan beat Haider Pehlwan.