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Indian wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Geeta Phogat came together to announce a new wrestling league, namely the Wrestling Champions Super League (WCSL), Monday. The wrestlers announced that Paris Olympics 2024 bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat will also participate. The 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist, Malik and the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Geeta Phogat released a joint statement to announce the new league.
The official statement read, “The only way to repay your trust is to dedicate our sporting talent, experience, grit and success to the service of the sport. The two of us have therefore come together to create the Wrestling Champions Super League (WCSL). In wrestling, are embedded some of Indian sports’ most stirring tales of valour, glory and sense of community. Through WCSL we will also bring those to life.”
It will help Indian wrestling greatly: Aman Sehrawat on joining WCSL
Aman Sehrawat, who became only Indian wrestler to win a medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, opened up on joining the league. He said that this league will help wrestling greatly, and stated, “This league is a commendable initiative which will help Indian wrestling greatly and hence, I want to be a part of it and support it fully.” Apart from him, Sakshi and Geeta also spoke about their objective behind launching a new league.
They said, "Although founded by the two of us, the WCSL is a national mission committed to respecting and working in close partnership with all stakeholders. Winning, after all, is a team sport. Our hearts beat only for India, for Indian wrestling and for Indian sport. Come, let’s build the sporting India of our dreams mil ke, ek saath!"
It’s like people organising dangals: WFI President Sanjay Singh
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh said that the federation has no role in Geeta Phogat and Sakshi Malik’s league. He also said that it is like “people organising dangals” and is completely a privately-owned league. He told IANS, “That might be their personal thing. Like people organise dangals. WFI has no role in it and we don’t support such leagues.”
While the details of the league still remain disclosed, the reel organised by the wrestlers is likely to be the first wrestling league in India since 2019. It was the last edition of the Pro Wrestling League initiated by ProSportify and the Wrestling Federation of India in 2015 was held in 2019.
