"For the first time we will have wrestlers from Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan participating in the annual kushti competition, which has been conducted for the last 15 years," Nirupam told reporters today.
The overseas grapplers would fight against wrestlers from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Punjab at Andheri Sports Complex.
Georgian Levan Berianidze, the bronze medalist in 2010 World Championship, will compete against Joginder Kumar, while Azerbaijan's and European junior champion Paata Bakuridze will fight against Commonwwealth Games gold medalist Narsingh Yadav.
Russian senior European champion Koba Kakaladze will face off against Avdesh Yadav.
"Unfortunately, in Mumbai, wrestling doesn't have presence in schools. Cricket, badminton, tennis are the popular sports at school level. Even the number of wrestling rings is declining and there may not be more than four rings in the city," the Parliamentarian said.
The day-long event would also feature bouts between Indian wrestlers.
