Rustam-e-Pakistan Wrestling Competition Postponed

LAHORE: Due to the prevailing intense heat and humidity, the Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) has announced the postponement of the Rustam-e-Pakistan Dangal wrestling competition until October. The decision was made official on Monday.

The federation’s executive committee reached this conclusion after taking into account the well-being, physical condition, and training of the wrestlers, emphasizing that the safety of the athletes is the top priority.

The national-level event, which was originally scheduled for June in Lahore, will now be conducted in the third week of October in the same city.

The Rustam-e-Pakistan Dangal is a highly anticipated wrestling competition in the country, where the nation’s best wrestlers compete for the coveted title and national recognition.

Adnan Tairaanwala and Gulzar Gullo, two accomplished wrestlers, have already secured their spots in the final match.

In addition to the main event, the October event will also feature a number of traditional ‘desi kushti’ matches in various weight categories.

Officials have stated that delaying the event was crucial to guarantee a level playing field and competitive atmosphere, as well as to mitigate the hazards posed by Lahore’s high summer temperatures.

The final, which was initially scheduled for June, has been moved to October, providing athletes with more time to prepare in better conditions.

The winner of the Rustam-e-Pakistan title will be awarded a cash prize of Rs one million, and a total of Rs three million in prize money will be distributed among all participants during the competition.

The semifinals were successfully organized last month at the Agricultural University in Faisalabad before the postponement.

Adnan Tairaanwala from WAPDA defeated Asif Mochi of the Army in the first semifinal to advance to the final.

Gulzar Gullo of the Army defeated Tayyab Raza of WAPDA in the second semifinal to earn his spot in the championship match.

The semifinals were held under the guidance of Chaudhry Arshad Sattar, President of the Punjab Wrestling Association, with assistance from Mehr Akram, also known as Kala Pehlwan, President of the Lahore Wrestling Association.

Chairman Nadeem Pehlwan and national coach Fareed Ali played a key role in organizing the event and ensuring its seamless execution.