The second season of the Pro Wrestling League couldn’t have had a better time to start, given that the film on the wrestling coach Mahavir Phogat’s life – Dangal – just released and rocked the box office.
The franchise based tournament, which has six teams, will be held from 2-19 January at the KD Jadhav Wrestling Stadium in New Delhi.
The six sides are Jaipur Ninjas, Delhi Sultans, Mumbai Maharathi, UP Dangal, NCR Punjab Royals and Haryana Hammers.
The Quint takes a look at five wrestlers to watch out for in the tournament.
1. Sakshi Malik
Sakshi Malik made history in the Rio Olympics, when she became the first Indian woman to win a medal in wrestling. The 24-year-old clinched the bronze medal in the 58kg category after beating Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan.
Malik, who has a Commonwealth Games silver medal (2014) and Senior International Tournament gold medal (2014) under her belt, will be wrestling for the Delhi Sultans.
2. Geeta Phogat
Geeta Phogat, who is getting back to action after a long injury lay-off, will be raring to go for UP Dangal. Phogat, who competes in the 58kg category, will be facing Sakshi Malik and Tunisia’s Marwa Amri (Rio Olympics bronze medallist) in the tournament.
Geeta missed out on a Rio berth because she was suspended by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after she forfeited her repechage bout in the first Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Ulaanbator, Mongolia in April.
Since I was already out of the qualification race I decided to opt out of the match to save myself for the last chance at Istanbul. I understand it is not right to quit the competition but an injury would have spoilt my last chance at Istanbul also.Geeta Phogat
The reason wasn’t good enough for WFI and they replaced Geeta with Sakshi for the next Olympic qualifying tournament, in which Malik won a silver medal.
Geeta Phogat will be certainly looking for vengeance in the Pro Wrestling League.
3. Vladimir Khinchegashvili
Georgia’s Vladimir Khinchegashvili is one of the best wrestlers in the world. If the Indians want to make a mark at the world stage, they will have to find a way to beat this Georgian.
Khinchegashvili has a Rio Olympics, European Championship (2016) and World Championship (2015) gold medal under his belt.
The 25-year-old will be competing in the 57 kg category for the NCR Punjab Royals.
4. Sandeep Tomar
Sandeep Tomar will be the Indian wrestler to watch out for, among the men, in the tournament, since Olympic medallists Yogeshwar Dutt and Sushil Kumar will not be taking part in the competition.
Yogeshwar pulled out of the competition because his wedding dates are clashing with the tournament. And Sushil Kumar, who pulled out of the first Pro Wrestling League season due to shoulder and hand injuries, has not shown an interest in taking part in the tournament.
Sandeep Tomar, who was part of the Indian Rio Olympics wrestling team and won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Championship in 2016, will be wrestling for Haryana Hammers in the 57 kg category.
5. Babita Phogat
The other Phogat sister, Babita, will be wrestling alongside her sister Geeta for the UP Dangal team. Babita will be competing in the 53kg category.
The 27-year-old, who lost in the opening round of the Rio Olympics to Greek wrestler Maria Prevolaraki, will be certainly looking to make things right in the Pro Wrestling League.
The Haryana girl has a Commonwealth Games (2014) gold medal and Commonwealth Games (2010) silver medal under her belt.
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