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Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ambala, March 24
Haryana’s Mausam Khatri won his second successive ‘Bharat Kesri Dangal’ title, taking home prize money of Rs 10 lakh for the second year in running. Khatri beat Railways’ Krishan in the 97 kg final at the War Heroes Memorial Stadium in Ambala Cantonment last night. The total prize money for the dangal was Rs 1 crore which was equally distributed among winners in all 10 categories (Rs 10 lakh each).
The dangal — organised in memory of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru — witnessed Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat, PV Sindhu, Deepa Karmarkar and Sakshi Malik in the spectators’ gallery. The sportspersons were honoured by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
And egged on by the senior Phogat sisters, youngsters Vinesh and Ritu took home the top prizes in their categories.
Vinesh, making a comeback after an injury layoff, beat Haryana’s Pinki in the 53 kg final, while Ritu beat Maharashtra’s Nandini Solanki in the 48 kg final. Punjab’s Preeti finished third.
In the men’s 86 kg final, Railways’ Pawan beat Delhi’s Deepak. In the men’s 74 kg final, Haryana’s Jitender beat Railways’s Parveen Rana. In men’s 65 kg final, Railways’ Bajrang beat Uttar Pradesh’s Manoj. Haryana’s Rajneesh finished third.
In the men’s 57 kg final, UP’s Sandeep Tomer beat Haryana’s Amit Dahiya.
In the women’s 69 kg final, Delhi’s Divya Kakaran beat Haryana’s Pinki. In the 63 kg final, Railways’ Ritu Malik beat Sangeeta.
In the 58 kg final, Haryana’s Pooja Dhanda beat Railways’ Sarita.
CM doubles prize money for next year’s dangal
CM Manohar Lal Khattar announced that the prize money for the next year’s edition would be increased to Rs 2 crore. He said the sports infrastructure would be improved to make Haryana the sports hub of the country. Khattar also laid the foundation stone for a football stadium at the War Heroes Memorial Stadium.
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