Rio Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik’s triumph did not translate into big bucks at the Pro-Wrestling League 2 auction held in Delhi on Friday. While Ritu Phogat scored the highest among Indian women wrestlers, bagging Rs 36 lakh from the Jaipur team, Sakshi just bagged Re 30 lakh from the Delhi team, PTI reported.
The Phogat sisters — Geeta, Babita, Ritu and Sangeeta — were snapped up by their respective teams with an overall amount of Rs 70 lakh.
https://twitter.com/aakhrimanzil1/status/803584349211856900
Ritu Phogat is the 2016 Commonwealth Championship gold medallist and has been signed by new entrants -- Jaipur.
However, it never appeared from Sakshi’s expression that she was unhappy at being signed for a less amount at the auction. Her fiance Satyavart Kadian was also abought by Delhi. Phogat sisters Babita and Geeta will represent the Uttar Pradesh franchise.
You May Also Like: I was about to faint the day she won the bronze, Sakshi Malik’s mother gets candid
"I am happy to be in the same team as Satyavart," said Sakshi, who bagged a bronze at the Rio Games, becoming the first Indian women wrestler to win an Olympic medal.
That’s what’s called sporting spirit!
Other notable buys at the auction were:
- Among foreign wrestlers, Mariya Stadnik was the most expensive women wrestler at the auction - Rs 47 lakh (Delhi), while Erica Wiebe signed for Rs 43 lakh (Mumbai) and three-time world champion Sofia Mattsson went for Rs 41.5 lakh (Haryana)
- Among Indian wrestlers, Bajrang Punia was the costliest buy - Rs 38 lakh (Delhi), the same team as Sakshi.
- Rio Olympics gold medallist Vladimer Khinchegashvili of Georgia went for Rs 48 lakh (Punjab)
Also Read: Sakshi Malik becomes ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ ambassador
- Indian Rahul Aware - Rs 31 lakh (Mumbai)
- Meanwhile, Yogeshwar Dutt has opted out of the second edition after opting out of the auction process.
- Six franchises -- Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab, Jaipur, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana participated in the auction. Over 200 wrestlers went under the hammer, while renowned auctioneer Bob Hayton conducted the proceedings.
Needless to say in the closed bid process, international sportspersons dominated Indians in the auction.
https://twitter.com/Kartikeya_iTV/status/804912957293359104
According to the rules, all teams are operated with a Rs 2 crore with a nine-member squad each (five men and four women), and the each team can have a maximum of five Indians and four international wrestlers, PTI reported.
Don’t let the bronze change the colour of your heart: Mary Kom to Sakshi Malik
Feature Image Credit: espn.in
Read More Stories By Ria Das
Join Us on https://www.facebook.com/SheThePeoplePage
Follow Us on https://twitter.com/SheThePeopleTV
/shethepeople/media/post_attachments/AuIUOgwheYHqF3OKt5fm.jpg)
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/2024/11/11/2024-11-11t082606806z-shethepeople-black-logo-2000-x-2000-px-1.png){kind=logo}
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/post_banners/J8fgkb0wv1yajlYjppQD.jpg)