Indian Athletes Shine on the Global Stage – CM Devendra Fadnavis

Jalgaon : Indian athletes, particularly those from Maharashtra, are making a mark on the global stage, bringing immense pride to the nation, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the Devabhau Kesari International Wrestling Tournament held under the Namo Kushti Maha Kumbh-2 event, organized by Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan in Jamner. The event was attended by Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Jalgaon Guardian Minister Gulabrao Patil, Union Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse, MP Smita Wagh, and MLAs Suresh Bhole, Mangesh Chavan, Anil Patil, Sanjay Kute, Chandrakant Sonawane, Chandrakant Patil, Amol Patil, Amol Javalge, Anupbhaiyya Agrawal, along with wrestling federation representatives, including Ramdas Tadas and Jamner Municipal Council President Sadhana Mahajan.

CM Fadnavis highlighted the achievements of Indian athletes in global competitions such as the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games, with Maharashtra’s athletes playing a key role. He acknowledged that while wrestling on mats had gained prominence in recent years, traditional mud wrestling was making a strong comeback. He recalled that the first Olympic medal in wrestling for India was won by Khashaba Jadhav and praised contemporary wrestlers like Vijay Chaudhary, Sonali Mandalik, and Rajiv Patel for their victories over international opponents.

The presence of world-class wrestlers from nine countries at this tournament had elevated the event’s prestige, he noted. He also commended Minister Girish Mahajan for organizing an international-level competition and lauded the overwhelming response from the public, calling it a testament to the event’s success.

The tournament featured world champions and Olympic medalists from countries such as France, Romania, Estonia, Uzbekistan, and Georgia, along with winners of prestigious Indian wrestling titles like Hind Kesari, Rustam-e-Hind, Bharat Kesari, and Maharashtra Kesari. The Chief Minister emphasized that hosting such events in Jamner was a significant step in fostering a strong wrestling culture.

Winners of the competition were felicitated with silver maces by dignitaries. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from wrestling federation officials, international wrestlers, and a large audience.