Indian Wrestling - Vajra Kesari Karnataka Kushti Title Bout - Leslie Xavier vs Swaroop - Highlghts
Channel: leslie xavier
Date: 10/03/2024

Highlights from the Vajra Kesari Karnataka State Wrestling (Kushti) title bout where I (Leslie Xavier) fought against Swaroop Pahelwan from Kanakapura. 
#wrestling  #indianwrestling  #dangal  
The 15-minute final bout, staged as part of the Dangal wrestling festival celebrating Shivaratri in Madiwala, ended in a draw. Swaroop and I shared the title, accolades, honours, and cheers showered upon us by a knowledgeable and passionate group of spectators who thronged the venue at Maruti Nagar, BTM, Bengaluru. 
Across India, Kushti has its hotbeds and unique subcultures. In Karnataka, that culture is cherished and nurtured by the garadi mane establishments (akharas or wrestling training centres) strewn across the state, including urban centres such as Bengaluru. Mysuru, Belagavi, Dharwad and some towns in north Karnataka are the other hotbeds of wrestling in the state with regular invitational tournaments held, organised by the garadi manes and wrestling lovers. 
I chanced upon the Maruti Nagar Vajra Kesari Garadi Mane, run by Manjunath pehalwan, while looking for a training centre to train with the grapplers in Bengaluru. Needless to say, I was welcomed with open arms by the wrestlers at the centre, which is a hallmark of this ancient sport -- it bridges all barriers and nurtures virtues which can fuel growth, both self and the society.