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While it all started with the now discontinued Premier Hockey League in 2005, the rage that is franchise-based tourneys has only grown over the last decade or so. Following cricket, football, tennis and kabaddi, it only seemed about time that prominent Olympic sports joined the bandwagon. And so it happened today, Wrestling Federation of India, in association with Pro-Sportify launched the Pro Wrestling League in Delhi’s Taj Palace Hotel.
In what was a glittering ceremony, well known celebrities like Shekhar Ravjiani and bhangra Reggae singer – Apache Indian performed; the players added to the glam quotient as they were introduced in attire synonymous with Greek and Roman warfare.
Slated from November 8 to 29 later this year, the league shall witness participation from 20 Olympic medalists and 46 other wrestlers fight it out for a whopping US $3 million in prize money. Six city-based franchisees, each with a base price of 3 crores shall go under the hammer soon and the wrestlers shall follow suit soon.
“It will be a game changer”
Speaking at the launch, President of the Wrestling Federation of India and member of the Lok Sabha, Brij Bhushan Singh exuded belief and confidence, “It will be a game changer. Our wrestlers are most successful and this will help them further in their bid to win more medals at the Olympics.”
Founding-director of Pro Sportify, Karthikeya Sharma shared the vision, “We are confident that we will usher a new era for the business of sports in India. Our philosophy as a company reflects in our name. Our approach to uplift and transform the sports will be thoroughly professional and there will be no compromises with the basics and essence of the games and PWL, in spite of all commercial exploits, shall remain ‘the real deal’ for sportsmen.”
The plethora of players present at the event seemed extremely excited and up for the revolution that shall ensue soon too. Our only 2-time individual Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar heaped praise on the initiative and asserted how big a development it is for the sport in our country, “It was important for something like this to happen for our sport in country. In my opinion it shall encourage more youngsters to take up the sport and hone their skills and this should prove detrimental in getting us more titles at the world level.”
He also re-affirmed that sport and not money holds precedence behind their decision to join the bandwagon, “See, it’s more to do with how we adapt with the changing times. More than anything else, we would want our players to become household names too. This league promises to do just that and hence I am as excited as anyone else.”
While the rules will be unique, Sushil assured the core of the sport shall be maintained and that the perception of a strictly rural pastime that wrestling had till now shall be transformed beyond recognition soon. Here’s hoping Sushil’s enthusiasm reaps a brilliant tournament and the league does indeed usher in a new era for wrestling in India.
