MULTAN, Jan 12: Twenty-six grapplers scored victory in the preliminary round of the national wrestling championship inaugurated by the veteran wrestler Zamman Khan at Multan Youth Centre Friday.

Over 50 wrestlers from NWFP, Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Army, Railways, Police, UGC and the defending champion Wapda are participating in the team event being played on the basis of international wrestling rules.

Twenty six contests were held in different weight categories ranging from 54 kilogram to 130 kilograms.

54kg category, Barkat Ali (Army), Haroon Khan (Wapda) and A. Karim (Railways) defeated their rivals on the first day.

58kg category, M. Khurram (Wapda), Jehanzeb (Railways), Fawwad (NWFP) and Farooq (Army) scored victory.

63kg category, M. Shoukat (Army), Owais (Railways) Shafiq (Punjab) and Abid Khan (Wapda) were declared winners.

69kg category, Muhammad Riaz (Railways), Shahid Nawaz (UGC), Tariq (Punjab) and Papur (Wapda) scored victory.

76kg category, Muhammad Ali (Wapda), Rauf Ahmed Khan (Police), Merghulan (NWFP) and Asif Ali (Railways).

85kg category, Kashif Ali (Police), Muhammad Usman (Wapda), Allah Rakha (Punjab).

97kg category, Akhlaq Ahmed (UGC) and Zahid (Punjab).

130kg category, Bashir Bhola Bhala (Wapda) and Nadir Hussain were promoted to next stage.

It may be noted that Shahid Nawaz of UGC, Bashir Bhola Bhala of Wapda, Nadir Hussain, Asif Ali of Railways and Rauf Ahmed Khan of Police were promoted to the next stage due to securing the advantage in draws in the form of ‘bye’.

The championship would conclude Sunday.—APP