Patna: The traditional wrestling tournament Mati Ka Bal – Dangal was formally inaugurated on Saturday at the S.K. Singh Memorial Stadium in Jamui, with Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary leading the opening ceremony. The two-day event, held on February 14–15, brings together 188 male and female wrestlers from across the state, signalling a growing emphasis on grassroots sports in Bihar.
The ceremony was attended by several political and administrative figures, including Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh, former minister and MLA Damodar Rawat, and officials from the Bihar State Sports Authority. Organisers described the event as an effort to revive traditional wrestling while providing a competitive platform for emerging talent from different districts.
Addressing the audience, Samrat Choudhary said the competition symbolised social and cultural unity, adding that Bihar’s sporting heritage should be celebrated alongside development efforts. He said sports infrastructure was being expanded across the state to help produce athletes capable of competing at national and international levels, stressing that prosperity and sporting spirit must grow together.
Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh said Jamui had long been known for its sporting talent and highlighted the government’s commitment to athlete development. She said the long-term ambition was to increase participation from Bihar athletes at the Olympic level, framing the event as part of a broader strategy to strengthen sporting ecosystems in the state.
Officials from the Bihar State Sports Authority and the Bihar Wrestling Association welcomed participants and spectators, describing the competition as a collaboration between government departments and sporting bodies. For many attendees, the tournament represented both a celebration of traditional wrestling and a sign of Bihar’s aspiration to establish a stronger presence on the national sporting map.
