22:40
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KARACHI: Japan’s renowned wrestler Anoki and his fellow grapplers will illuminate the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore with their fights on Sunday evening (today) in connection with the celebrations of the 60 years diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Japan, writes Alam Zeb Safi.
Anoki, who has come to Lahore along with a dozen of Japanese wrestlers, aims to give a message of peace to the world with the exhibition fights. He announced at a press conference that he was told by people not to go to Pakistan but he was adamant to come as he wanted to see the ground realities about a country that is haunted by terrorism.
The wrestling legend, who is now called Mohammad Hussain Anoki after embracing Islam, said that a few American wrestlers were also scheduled to come with him but they refused at the eleventh hour citing security reasons.
In the past, Anoki had twice visited Pakistan in 1976 and 1986. In 1976 he defeated Akram Pahalawan while in 1986 he tasted defeat at the hands of Jhara.
An official of the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) told this correspondent on Saturday that the free-style wrestling event was being held under the auspices of the Anoki Foundation and SBP.
Anoki also visited the tombs of Akram Pahalwan and Jhara Pahalawan on Saturday. He adopted the 13-year old nephew of Jhara Pahlawan and said he would meet all his expenses of his free-style wrestling training at his own academy in Japan.
Anoki also announced to establish an academy in Lahore with the collaboration of the Sports Board Punjab where Pakistan’s cream wrestlers will be imparted training in free-style wrestling. “A huge crowd is expected to witness today’s competitions,” the SBP official said.
Anoki, who has come to Lahore along with a dozen of Japanese wrestlers, aims to give a message of peace to the world with the exhibition fights. He announced at a press conference that he was told by people not to go to Pakistan but he was adamant to come as he wanted to see the ground realities about a country that is haunted by terrorism.
The wrestling legend, who is now called Mohammad Hussain Anoki after embracing Islam, said that a few American wrestlers were also scheduled to come with him but they refused at the eleventh hour citing security reasons.
In the past, Anoki had twice visited Pakistan in 1976 and 1986. In 1976 he defeated Akram Pahalawan while in 1986 he tasted defeat at the hands of Jhara.
An official of the Sports Board Punjab (SBP) told this correspondent on Saturday that the free-style wrestling event was being held under the auspices of the Anoki Foundation and SBP.
Anoki also visited the tombs of Akram Pahalwan and Jhara Pahalawan on Saturday. He adopted the 13-year old nephew of Jhara Pahlawan and said he would meet all his expenses of his free-style wrestling training at his own academy in Japan.
Anoki also announced to establish an academy in Lahore with the collaboration of the Sports Board Punjab where Pakistan’s cream wrestlers will be imparted training in free-style wrestling. “A huge crowd is expected to witness today’s competitions,” the SBP official said.
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