Japanese wrestler to visit Peshawar

Inoki to train Pakistani athletes and take part in international event.

ISLAMABAD:

Antonio Inoki, a former Japanese professional wrestler, will be visiting Peshawar to participate in an international wrestling competition on December, according to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Minister for Sports and Culture Syed Aquil Shah.

“Inoki is a huge figure in the sports and also for the initiation of peace in Russia, North Korea, China and Somalia so is his visit to Pakistan, in the current situation, also carries a similar aim,” said Shah.

According to Shah, Inoki, a sitting member of the Japanese parliament, will arrive in Pakistan to portray a soft image of the country amid countries refusing to visit due to the law-and-order situation.



“Inoki has showed interest in training Pakistani wrestlers in Japan and also provide assista-nce of Japanese trainers.”

Meanwhile, Shah confirmed that the Japanese wrestler will be bringing a two-tonne wrestling ring with him.

“I hope he leaves the ring here as a goodwill gesture,” said Shah before adding that traditional dances like khattak, chitrali, horse dance, paragliding, arts display as well as dhol players will also form part of the event.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2012.