Bagha Sharif retains title at Jabbar’s Boli Khela

Staff Reporter :

In a thrilling and fiercely fought final showdown, Cumilla’s Bagha Sharif has once again clinched the championship title at the 116th edition of the historic Abdul Jabbar’s Boli Khela-marking his second consecutive win.

Held at the iconic Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram, this age-old traditional wrestling competition drew thousands of spectators, continuing a century-old heritage.

This year’s final was a much-anticipated rematch between last year’s top contenders-Bagha Sharif and Rashed Boli, both hailing from Cumilla. The bout stretched for over 30 minutes, with neither able to bring the other down using the traditional takedown method required for victory.

As the intense deadlock persisted, the organisers ruled out the possibility of joint winners, a move that ignited thunderous cheers from the crowd.

To settle the contest, they introduced a modified rule: instead of fully pinning the opponent, simply throwing him to the ground would now suffice for a win.

Seizing the moment, Bagha Sharif launched a fresh offensive. In a critical exchange, as he attempted to bring Rashed down, Rashed grabbed onto the ropes surrounding the ring to avoid falling. Chief referee Hafizur Rahman called this a technical foul and ruled Rashed out, awarding the match-and the championship-to Bagha Sharif.

A heated protest followed from Rashed, who contested the decision, but organising committee member secretary Shawkat Anwar Badol stepped in to confirm that the referee’s ruling would stand, thereby ending the dramatic standoff.

This year’s Boli Khela drew a record number of 150 participants from across the country. Following an initial screening, 80 wrestlers advanced to the first round. After several gripping matches, four new competitors joined last year’s top four finishers in a high-stakes challenge round.

In that round, Kamal from Cumilla defeated Kanchan of Chattogram; Bagha Sharif bested Dipu, also from Cumilla; Shahjalal from Cumilla overcame Sitakunda’s Russell; and Rashed triumphed over Rubel from Rangamati. All semifinalists-Bagha Sharif, Rashed, Shahjalal, and Kamal-represented Cumilla, highlighting the district’s dominance in the event.

In the semifinals, Bagha Sharif emerged victorious against Kamal, while Rashed secured a win over Shahjalal-setting the stage for a high-voltage rematch of last year’s final.

Following the conclusion of the final match, Chattogram Mayor Shahadat Hossain awarded the championship trophy to Bagha Sharif. Earlier in the day, the event had been formally inaugurated by Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz.

Abdul Jabbar, a businessman from the Badarpati area of Chattogram, first introduced the Boli Khela in 1909 during the British colonial era, aiming to strengthen young men through physical training as part of the anti-British movement. What began as a political initiative has since evolved into one of the region’s most cherished traditional sporting spectacles, celebrated annually on the 12th of Baishakh.

The wrestling event also serves as the main attraction of a week-long Baishakhi fair, which transforms the Laldighi area into a vibrant hub of festivities. The fair features cultural showcases, colorful stalls, and traditional goods from all corners of the country, drawing large crowds of visitors from far and wide.