Ranchi, Jan. 9: The government has granted Rs 26 lakh for holding the 49th Men’s and 6th Women’s Senior Wrestling Championship, which began with a colourful ceremony today at the Jaipal Singh Stadium.

State sports and culture minister Baidyanath Ram made the formal announcement in the presence of the Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari and other Cabinet members including finance minister Mrigendra Pratap Singh.

This was the first time that a national-level event was being organised in Ranchi attended by national and international sportspersons. The money, according to Jharkhand Wrestling Federation secretary Bholanath Singh, was given to ensure that the wrestlers representing their respective states, returned with sweet memories of the state.

“We are a new state and have to do everything from scratch. I can assure you that the government is serious about promoting sports in a big way,” he said at the inaugural ceremony.