One is a popular yoga exponent with a massive following across India. The other is an experienced wrestler who is part of a team led by an Olympian grappler. The two came together yesterday to take part in a friendly wrestling match in Hardwar to loud cheers.
Yoga exponent Ramdev, wearing orange shorts, wrestled at an event held at Patanjali Yogpeeth to mark its 20th foundation day. He took on wrestler Vipin in the 65 kg weight category after being ushered into the ring by famous wrestler Sushil Kumar's team.
Ramdev said he had jumped into the wrestling arena to generate interest among people in indigenous games like kabaddi and wrestling and earn international prestige for the Indian games.
"It was something like what ancient sage Pradatta did for yoga in his time," he said.
His close aide Balkrishna said the competition was as much for dedication to yogic discipline, restraint and vegetarianism.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was present during the wrestling and kabaddi event, gave away desi ghee canisters and a brass mace among the winners and runners up of wrestling events in both men and women categories.
Ramdev's advise for future wrestlers: "Drink cow's milk and kheer made of that."
.@YogRishiRamdev came on the wrestler mat to promote the age old sport of wrestling pic.twitter.com/lGw8jBUvjq
— Swami Ramdev (@yogrishiramdev) January 5, 2015
World famous wrestler Sushil Kumar, felicitated by @yogrishiramdev on the day of Patanjali Sthapana Divas Samaroh pic.twitter.com/3fnG0M8Snq
— Swami Ramdev (@yogrishiramdev) January 5, 2015
(With PTI inputs)