ICC releases venues for women's T20 world cup, check list here
J-K Assembly Election 2024: 'Abdullahs, Muftis, Gandhis have given...,' says PM Modi in Srinagar
Meet woman who left medical career for UPSC exam , became IPS with AIR 165 then left job due to...
Meet Indian billionaire with Rs 32615 crore net worth who wants you to save Rs 600 daily because...
IAS Puja Khedkar case latest update: Delhi HC issues...; Know details here
Haryana Assembly Election 2024: BJP releases election manifesto, guarantees...
Amid Ind vs Ban, why is 'boycottBangladeshCricket' trending on social media? Know here
'Usko dekh...': Rishabh Pant during war of words with Liton Das during Ind vs Ban test
This is world's costliest rice, price of 1 kg will leave you shocked, it is grown in...
Could your phone be the next bomb? The scary truth about remote explosions
Watch video: Rohit Sharma's reaction after Virat Kohli's dismissal in Ind vs Ban test match
Bihar: 15 people held for torching 21 houses in Nawada, government says more arrests likely
Atishi, along with new cabinet, to take oath as Delhi CM on..., know details here
Ed raids ex-IAS, Noida Authority CEO's house, Rs 1 crore cash, Rs 19 crore jewellery recovered
Hezbollah walkie-talkie blast kills 20 in Lebanon; Israel declares 'start of new phase in war'
NASA Alert: Giant asteroid Apophis, as big as a skyscraper, will approach Earth on...
Himesh Reshammiya's father, music director Vipin Reshammiya, passes away at 87
This is now India's biggest alcohol firm, has surpassed Johnnie Walker maker Diageo by Rs...
Big win for ISRO: Centre approves Chandrayaan-4, Venus mission and a space station; allocates Rs...
Mpox in India: First Mpox case confirmed in Kerala, patient recently travelled from...
'Joke ban chuka hai': Rohit Sharma's sly dig at players who reverse retirement decisions
Flipkart founder Sachin Bansal’s company overtakes Amazon to become India’s…
Meet youngest CEO of India, who created first app at 9, began his own company at 13, now he is…
This train gave Rs 628800000 loss to Indian Railway, everyday 200-250 seats left vacant due to…
Not Rishab Shetty, this superstar was first choice for blockbuster Kantara; he left film because...
DNA TV Show: Record voting in first phase of J-K Assembly Elections, what does it indicate?
Salman Khan house firing case: Accused claims doctor in prison demanded Rs 10000 for...
Meet IPS Anurag Garg, IIT alumnus and new NCB Director General
Atishi to be Delhi's new CM: LG proposes AAP leader’s swearing-in ceremony on this date
Air pollution: GRAP period starts early in Delhi-NCR, buses not allowed to enter capital if…
Deepinder Goyal's Zomato gets fresh Rs 177000000 crore notice due to...
What happens if India do not travel to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy? ICC plans to...
IPL 2025: BCCI likely to hold mega auction during these months
EY India finally breaks silence over 26-year-old employee's death due to 'work stress'
Priyanka Chopra thanks Anushka Sharma for this special gift, shares photo on Instagram
Meet the mystery owner of Rs 11.53 lakh crore business, nobody knows about....
SL vs NZ: Kamindu Mendis equals world record in Tests, becomes 2nd batter to...
India’s richest and poorest states: Top GDP contributors, highest income earners revealed
UP man appeals to President, PM Modi to save daughter facing death sentence in UAE
Ex-BCCI President Sourav Ganguly files complaint against YouTuber for this reason
Men in this Indian village have two wives, living under one roof due to…
J-K Assembly Election 2024: 59% voter turnout recorded in Phase 1
Mpox Scare: Man tests positive in Kerala after returning from...
IND vs BAN, 1st Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs Bangladesh match
Deepika Padukone buys 1845 sq ft apartment near her mother-in-law's house in Mumbai, it worth Rs...
US Coast Guard reveals Titan submersible's last message, haunting video before deadly implosion
SPORTS
Sakshi, along with Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, had spearheaded the wrestlers' protest against ousted Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment.
TRENDING NOW
Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Aman Sehrawat, along with former world championship bronze-winner Geeta Phogat, on Monday announced that they would soon launch a Wrestling Champions Super League (WCSL) for the country's budding grapplers but the national federation has refused to sanction the initiative.
Sakshi, along with Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, had spearheaded the wrestlers' protest against ousted Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment.
She has, however, distanced herself from the latter two after they took the political plunge by joining Congress ahead of next month's Haryana assembly elections.
She won the 58kg bronze in 2016 Rio Olympics, and announced the project with Phogat, a 55kg bronze winner in 2012 World Championships through their social media handles. The two, while announcing that they had Paris Games bronze-winner Aman on board, did not provide any details.
Phogat told PTI that she is hopeful of support from the federation and the government.
"Sakshi and I have been planning this League for long. Soon it will take a final shape. We have not yet spoken to the WFI but it would be great if WFI and government support us. It will be the first league that will be operated only by the players," Phogat said.
"We are doing it for the players, for their benefit. That is the idea and vision, so no one should have any problem with it. It's a proud moment for us. We won't stop anyone from getting involved in it, if WFI or government comes on board, even better. We have not yet spoken to them.
"There will be international wrestlers, and coaches involved, so it should help our junior wrestlers. They will get good exposure." The WFI said it would not give its sanction to the league.
"We won't approve it. We are reviving our pro wrestling league and hopefully we will have it soon. The wrestlers are free to do their own league, they can promote the game, but we won't be linked with that," WFI President Sanjay Singh said.
Asked if there will be prize money involved, and about the format and venue for the event, Phogat said, "You will have to wait a bit to know all this. We will share the details very soon." Sakshi, who retired from wrestling after Sharan Singh's close aide Sanjay Singh became WFI head, said she hopes to give back to the sport through this initiative.
"The only way to repay your trust is to dedicate our sporting talent, experience, grit & success to the service of the sport. The 2 of us have therefore come together to create the Wrestling Champions Super League (WCSL)," she posted on X.
"The WCSL, a world class international league, will skill & strengthen our wrestlers to dominate the sport globally by taking on the world's best in a hyper competitive, expertly supervised environment with best-in-class support systems in place." She also said that Sehrawat, who won bronze in 57kg in Paris Olympics, also "shares our vision and is joining us on this journey." "This league is a very commendable initiative which will help Indian wrestling greatly and therefore I want to be a part of it and support it fully," Aman was quoted as saying by Sakshi.
Daughter of noted wrestling coach Mahavir, Geeta is a cousin of Vinesh, who will be contesting from Julana constituency during the Haryana elections.
Sakshi said the aim of the league is to build a culture of sustained high performance in the sport in the country.
"While WCSL is focused on wrestling, it is inspired also by our overwhelming urge to build a culture of sustained high performance in Indian sport & motivate every Indian to experience the joy of playing.
"Although founded by the 2 of us, the WCSL is a national mission committed to respecting & working in close partnership with all stakeholders. Winning, afterall, is a team sport. Our hearts beat only for India, for
Indian wrestling & for Indian sport. Come, let's build the sporting India of our dreams mil ke, ek saath!"
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from PTI)
The DNA app is now available for download on the Google Play Store. Please download the app and share your feedback with us.