Paris Olympics bronze medallist wrestler Aman Sehrawat has entered the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) auction as the most expensive domestic wrestler, with a base price of Rs 18 lakh. He shares this top-tier bracket with two-time Olympic medallist Yui Susaki and formidable Yusneylis Guzman Lopez.
The 21-year-old Sehrawat, whose recent ban from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for weight management issues at the Worlds was lifted, has been a standout performer for India, securing medals at the Olympic Games and Asian Games in recent seasons.
World and Commonwealth Games medallist Deepak Punia has been listed with a base price of Rs 10 lakh, alongside Commonwealth Games gold medallist Naveen.
Sujeet Kalkal, one of today’s top Indian wrestlers, has set his base price at just Rs 7 lakh.
In the foreign men’s category, the auction will be headlined by a strong European and Eurasian contingent.
Reigning world champions and Olympic medallists dominate the higher price slabs, with Russia’s Abasgadzhi Magomedov, a former world and European champion, entering at Rs 10 lakh. He is joined in the same bracket by Armenia’s world championship medallist Arman Andreasyan and Hungary’s 2023 world champion Iszmail Muszukajev, who also placed fifth at the Paris Olympics.
Other premium overseas names include Armenia’s multiple-time world and European medallist Arsen Harutyunyan and Russia’s reigning world and European champion Usmanov Akhmed, both listed at Rs 10 lakh and expected to attract fierce bidding.
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On the women’s side, world championship medallist and one of India’s most consistent international performers, Antim Panghal, has been assigned the highest base price among Indian women at Rs 10 lakh.
Anshu Malik, currently striving to regain form and mount a comeback, has also placed herself in the Rs 10 lakh bracket.
National Games champion Swati Shinde and former world championship silver medallist Pooja Gahlot are among the other top Indian contenders likely to draw strong bidding interest.
When will the Pro Wrestling League auction take place?
The Pro Wrestling League auction is scheduled for January 3, whereas the League will be held from January 15 to February 1.
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Which teams will feature in the Pro Wrestling League?
The six franchises set to compete in the upcoming season of the Pro Wrestling League are Haryana Thunders, Tigers of Mumbai Dangals, Punjab Royals, Maharashtra Kesari, Delhi Dangal Warriors, and UP Dominators.
(With PTI inputs)