Sushil hits jackpot at auction

Sushil Kumar was the cynosure at the Pro Wrestling League auction here, with the two-time Olympic medallist being bought for Rs 55 lakh by Delhi Sultans.

Sushil has only recently returned to action, winning the national championships. He then went on to claim the gold in the Commonwealth championships in South Africa.  

The second costliest India player at the auction was Vinesh Phogat, who was sold for Rs 40 lakh to UP Dangal followed by Sakshi Malik, Geeta Phogat and Bajrang Punia at Rs 39 lakh, Rs 28 lakh, Rs 25 lakh respectively.

Among foreign wrestlers, Georgia's Petrosivili Geno was bagged by Punjab Royals for Rs 50 lakh. Former world champion Hassan Rahimi was bought by Haryana Hammers for Rs 46 lakh.

Olympic and world champion Helen Maroulis was acquired by Haryana Hammers for Rs 44 lakh. Olympic champion from Russia, Soslan Ramonov was bought for Rs 38 lakh by Mumbai Maharathi.

Twenty Olympic and World Championship medallists will take part in the league to be held next month, the organisers said.

Along with two current Olympic champions in Helen Maroulis and Roslan Ramonov, 10 medal winners from Rio Olympics will be seen in action in the latest edition starting on January 9. Three current world champions in Haji Aliyev, Helen Maroulis and Petroshivli Geno, and four continental champions have been included in the six teams.

For the first time in Pro Wrestling League, players from China, France, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia and Egypt were part of the auction held on Saturday.

The teams:

Haryana Hammers: Hassan Rahimi (57 kg), Rajnish (65 kg), Khetik Sabalov (74kg), Rubaljeet Rangi (92 kg) Sumit (125 kg) Sun yanan (50 kg), Sarita Mann (62 kg), Pooja (76 kg).

Mumbai Maharathi: Andrei Yatsenco (57 kg), Soslan Ramonov (65kg), Virdev Gulia, (74 kg) Satyavrat Kadian (92 kg), Satyendra (125 kg), Simi (59 kg), Sakshi Malik (62 kg), Vascon Cynthia (76kg).

UP Dangal: Rahul Aware (57 kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg), Abdurakhmunov Bekzod (74 kg), Somvir (92kg), Komeil Ghasemi (125 kg), Vinesh Phogat (50 kg), Isulu Tenbekova (57 kg), Geeta Phogat (62 kg), Jainit Namit (76 kg).

Delhi Sultans: Sandeep Tomar (57 kg), Haji Aliyev (65kg), Sushil Kumar (74 kg), Alvaro Aslan (92 kg), Hitendra (125kg), Maroi Mizen (50kg) Sangeeta Phogat (57kg), Monia (62kg), Samar amer Humza (76kg).

Punjab Royals : Utkarsh Kale (57 kg), Bekbulotov Ilias (65kg), Jitendra (74 kg), Mausam Khatri (92 kg), Petroshivli Geno 125 (kg), Nirmala Devi (50 kg), Puja Dhanda (57 kg), Comba Laroc (76 kg).

Vir Maratha: Sarwan (57kg), Amit Dhankad (65kg), Praveen Rana (74 kg), Geogey kitov (92 kg), Lewen brienze (125kg) Ritu Phogat (50 kg), Mawra Amri (57 kg), Ritu Malik (62 Kg), Natalaya Varobiva (76kg).