The GMR Group today unveil the logo of the Delhi franchisee of the upcoming Pro Wrestling League (PWL) -- 'Dilli Veer'.
The Dilli Veer will be one of six teams competing at the inaugural PWL, to be held from December 10 to 27, across six cities in India.
Inspired by a shield, sahasra chakra and the oldest combat sport - wrestling, Dilli Veer logo projects a fearless and non-beatable attitude.
At the launch, the Delhi team members, along with coach Sujeet Mann and staff were present. The team consists of four foreign and five Indian players.
"Delhi is a special city for us, medium of sports keep us connected with the vibrant and youthful city, which Delhi is," Hemant Dua, CEO GMR Sports, said.
Dilli Veer team comprises the likes of three-time European champion Sofia Mattsson, who is the icon player, India's Vinesh Phogat, Yesilirmak Elif Jale of Turkey, Georgia's Petriashvili Geno and Navruzov Ikhtiyor of Uzbekistan among others.
The tournament will be held in nine weight categories and the match will consist of seven bouts lasting three minutes each. All six teams will play each other once before the top four teams progress to the semifinal of the tournament.
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Mumbai have roped in quite a few strong wrestlers this time around as well with three Olympic and World Champion medallists in their line up.
Rio Olympics champion Erica Wiebe of Canada will be the biggest strength for Mumbai, while Jabrayil Hasanov of Azerbaijan is World Championship silver-medallist along with bronze winner Pablo Olenik, who has replaced another Cuban wrestler Reineris Salas.
They also have in their ranks, Carolina Castillo Hidalgo, who missed Rio Olympics bronze medal by a narrow margin.
On the other hand, Haryana Hammers will be relying on world champion Magomed Kurbanaliev of Russia, Rio bronze medallists Sweden's Sofia Mattsson and Marwa Amri of Tunisia. Among Indians, they have high hopes from Asian champion and Rio Olympian Sandeep Tomar.
In the men's 97kg, a high-profile bout is on the cards between World championship silver medallists Abdusalom Gadisov and Pablo Olenik.
Punjab Royals will be heavily banking on their foreign buys such as Vladimir Khinchegashvili (gold in Rio Games), Togrul Asgarov and Vasilisa Marzaliuk (fifth at Rio Games).
The newest addition to PWL 2, Jaipur franchise would be hoping to make a mark with Rio Games bronze-medallist Jenny Franson of Sweden and Venezuela's Betzabeth Arguello, besides the heavyweight Georgian duo of Elizbar Odikadze and Yakob Makarashvili.
They would also rely on their highest buy Ritu -- the youngest of the Phogat sisters.
Incidentally Ritu became the costliest Indian female wrestler during the PWL auctions last month.
