WFI announces PWL 2 schedule

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Wednesday announced the dates of the second edition of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) which has been rescheduled to January 2-19 next year.

The PWL, which was held in front of packed stadiums during its inaugural edition last year, was originally scheduled to be held next month. But the government's ongoing demonetisation drive forced the WFI to postpone the tournament.

The capital will be the host city for all the matches of the PWLs second edition.

The rescheduled fixtures were welcomed by the PWL's foreign stars Erica Wiebe, Mariya Stadnik, Odunayo Adekuoroye and Yana Rattigan as they get an opportunity to celebrate Christmas.

"I'm very happy with the new dates. We would be having ample time to be here with our family on Christmas," Erica, who won gold at the Rio Olympics for Canada, said in a statement.

"Despite challenges, we take pride in hosting this mega wrestling event that features the largest pool of Olympians and World Champions and we promise the participation of top players of the world in large numbers. I'm very certain that wrestling enthusiasts would welcome the move despite all the challenges that have come our way," WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said.

The six teams participating this year will be from Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Jaipur. The second edition will follow the same format as of the inaugural season with each team comprising nine players -- five men and four women. Each squad will include five Indians and four international wrestlers.

The tournament will feature a total of 18 ties -- 15 in the league phase, two semi-finals and the final.

About a dozen Olympic medallists including Olympic and World Champion Vladimir Khinchegashvili, three-time Olympic medallist Mariya Stadnik, World Champion Oksana Herhel and Erica would be the star foreign attractions of the league.

Yogeshwar Dutt, Sakshi Malik and Sandeep Tomar will be the star attractions among the Indians.

--IANS

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