IIT Bombay will host sumo wrestling debut

College festivals these days mean serious business. And IIT Bombay’s Mood Indigo has been known to pull all stops to stay a cut above the competition. This time, they’re calling in the heavyweights, quite literally.

Scheduled from December 20 to 23, Mood Indigo is all set to create history by organising the first ever professional Sumo wrestling match in India. Invited to this special event will be three-time world sumo champion Byambajav Ulambayar and former world champion Naranbat Gankhuyag.

The organisers are already aware that catering to the needs of two wrestling giants will require a fair bit of effort. Aditi Jain, head, media and public relations, Mood Indigo, remarks, “We’re flying them in from Japan. To ensure they’re comfortable during their flight, we’ve booked four seats, two for each wrestler!”

Since most sumo matches don’t last over ten minutes, the wrestlers will also be engaging in a cultural exchange of sorts with the audience, displaying their gymnastic abilities as well as illegal sumo moves, which are slightly more dangerous. To overcome the language barrier, an English trained referee will enable the wrestlers to better interact with the audience. Pranay Surana, core group member, Mood I (Horizons) says, “We wanted to present an event which is not just entertaining but also holds some cultural value.”

Ever wondered if you have it in you to take on a sumo? A lucky few will get an opportunity to go head to head with the world champions in a friendly match, barring the likelihood of casualties. However, a safer bet would be opting for a photo session, to which the wrestlers have happily obliged.

And even though they might be names to contend with in Japan’s sumo world, it doesn’t exclude the wrestlers from bowing to the college festival’s chosen theme for this year — desi tadka. “Don’t be surprised if you see the sumos wrestling in a pagdi or a dhoti!” says Ronak Mehta, core group member, Mood Indigo.

The sumo wrestlers will be at the IIT Bombay campus on December 21 and 22. To stay updated on the event and
other activities of Mood Indigo, visit www.moodi.org.