PWL auction | Yogeshwar Dutt opts out, Ritu Phogat goes for more than Sakshi Malik
Yogeshwar Dutt will not figure in the second edition of the Pro Wrestling League after the 2012 London Olympics medallist opted out of the auction owing to personal reasons. Bajrang Punia turned out the most expensive Indian buy at Rs 38 lakh by the Delhi franchise on Friday (Dec 16).
“My wedding and wedding-related functions are clashing with the League, so I have decided to give this year's edition of the PWL a miss,” said Yogeshwar, who represented the Haryana franchise last year.
Rio Olympics gold medallist Vladimer Khinchegashvili of Georgia secured the highest bid at Rs 48 lakh, snapped by Punjab. Mariya Stadnik of Ukraine was the most expensive women wrestler at Rs 47 lakh while Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik went for Rs 30 lakh – both to Delhi.
Meanwhile, 2016 Commonwealth Championship gold medallist Ritu Phogat was bought by new entrants Jaipur for Rs 36 lakh – higher than Sakshi. The Phogat sisters – Geeta, Babita, Ritu and Sangeeta – in all went for Rs 70 lakh.
“I am happy to be in the same team as Satyavart (Kadian),” Sakshi said after her fiance was also bought by Delhi.
Among other notable buys, 2016 world champion Magomed Kurbanaliev of Russia and three-time world champion Sofia Mattsson of Sweden were both bought by the Haryana franchise for Rs 47 lakh and Rs 41.50 lakh respectively.
Mumbai bought Erica Wiebe and Rio Olympics bronze medallist Jabrayil Hasanov for Rs 43 lakh and Rs 32 lakh respectively. Nigerian female wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye went to Punjab for Rs 32 lakh.
