Pro Wrestling League: Top 5 match-ups to watch out for

The Pro Wrestling League starts on 10th DecemberThe inaugural edition of the one-of-a-kind Pro Wrestling League is almost upon us and come 10th December, the oldest combat sport in the world is set to come to the forefront. The tournament, with a total prize money of Rs.3 crore, will be held from December 10th to 27th.A total of 18 ties will be held during the tournament, 15 among them in the league phase, followed by two semi-finals and the final. Each tie comprises of nine bouts and will be played in accordance with the Olympics rules.Every team will have nine players each comprising of five men and four women. Also, each team can have a maximum of five Indians and four foreigners in their ranks.India’s pioneering sports tournament, the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) will provide a platform to world-class grapplers who would be part of one of the six prescribed franchises.The teamsDelhi Veer (owned by GMR Group)Bangalore Yodhaha (JSW Group)CDR Punjab Royals (CDR Group and actor Dharmendra)UP Warriors (Lotus Greens)Haryana Hammers (Olive Global)Mumbaiche Garude (Maverick Industries, Mafatlal, Garudacharya)PWL Icon PlayersYogeshwar Dutt - Haryana for Rs 39.70 lakhsSushil Kumar - Uttar Pradesh for Rs 38.20 lakhsAdeline Gray - Mumbai for Rs 37.00 lakhsNarsingh Yadav - Bangalore for Rs 34.50 lakhsGeeta Phogat - Punjab for Rs 33.00 lakhsSofia Mattison - Delhi for Rs 33.00 lakhsCostliest PlayersUkraine's Oksana Herhel - Haryana. Rs. 41.30 lakhs India’s Yogeshwar Dutt - Haryana for Rs 39.70 lakhs Let's take a look at the five possible featured grappling matches that you must watch out for in the PWL:-

#5 Sofia Mattison Vs Babita Kumari

Babita Kumari struck gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games

The 2015 World Championship silver medalist Sofia Mattison is the girl to beat in the women’s 53 kg weight class. Sofia Mattison was also among the Icon Players of PWL and was picked by Team Delhi for Rs. 33 Lakhs.

Babita Kumari – who won a bronze medal at the 2012 World Wrestling Championships and the gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was picked up by Team UP for Rs 34.10 Lakhs.

These two are among the few elite grapplers in this 53 kg category and a matchup between them does make sense when Delhi takes on UP in PWL’s inaugural match on 10th December in New Delhi.

#4 Adeline Gray Vs Vasilisa Marzaliuk

Having a world champion wrestler is always a great boost for any team and landing Adeline Gray could prove to be a great buy for Team Mumbai – who paid 37 lakhs to acuire her services.

Gray is a top notch grappler from the United States and is the world champion in the 69 kg category.

She won the gold medal in two consecutive World Championships and looks to continue her impressive run, but faces a stern test in Vasilisa Marzaliuk.

Vasilisa Marzaliuk is a wrestler from Belarus and the bronze medalist at the 2015 World Championships held in Las Vegas.

Despite losing the bronze medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 75 kg division, she is the top prospect in 69+ weight class and is the biggest competition for Gray, which is exactly why Vasilisa was picked by Team Punjab for a staggering amount of Rs. 40.2 Lakhs.

These two recently fought at the world wrestling championships in 2015 – where Gray got the better of Marzaliuk. Marzaliuk would be looking avenge her loss and settle the scores against the gold medallist grappler.

Their matchup could be one of the featured bouts in the women’s 69 Kg+ weight class when Punjab takes on Mumbai in New Delhi on 11th December.

#3 Geeta Phogat Vs Yesilirmak Elif Jale

Last time these two competed against each other, it was a night to forget for Geeta Phogat – who was listed as one of the Icon players in PWL auction and was bagged by Team Punjab for 33 Lakh price points.

Geeta Phogat won India's first ever gold medal in women's wrestling in the 55 kg freestyle category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and also holds the distinction of being the first-ever Indian female wrestler to have qualified for the Olympics.

Team Delhi were the ones to get the services of Yesilirmak Elif Jale after paying a whooping 39.60 lakhs for the Turkish grappler.

Yesilirmak had defeated Phogat in the recently held United World Wrestling tournament and Geeta would surely look to avenge the one-sided loss and give her team an upper hand when Delhi will face Punjab in Noida (UP) on 20th December 2015.

#2 Yogeshwar Dutt Vs Bajrang Kumar

India wrestlers Amit Kumar (L), Yogeshwar Dutt (C) and Bajrang Kumar (R) after arriving from the Commonwealth games in Glasgow

Yogeshwar Dutt, who is best known for winning a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Men's 60 kg Freestyle wrestling in India was the costliest Indian grappler in the inaugural Pro Wrestling League (PWL) auctions.

He was picked up by Haryana for Rs. 39.70 lakhs.

Bajrang Kumar, a youngster who won the Bronze medal in the world wrestling championships 2015 could very well face one of the best Indian wrestlers in Yogeshwar Dutt – who is actually a mentor of the 21-year-old Bajrang.

Kumar was picked by Team Bengaluru for Rs. 29.5 lakhs. The bout between the mentor and his disciple will be interesting if it comes forth when Haryana takes on Bengaluru on 12th December in New Delhi.

#1 Sushil Kumar Vs Narsingh Yadav

One of these two will represent India at the 74 kg weight class in the 2016 Olympics

This is going to be the biggest and most anticipated match in PWL as both of these guys are currently fighting for the same spot for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The main challenger in the 74kg category in the Rio Olympics for both Indians is American Jordan Burroughs (not in PWL). The 27-year-old has won 11 gold medals in the last 12 major tournaments he has been a part of.

It includes a gold at the London Games and three world championships, except for 2014 when he won bronze. Jordan is clearly the man to beat and the question is, which Indian can go on to do that?

A matchup between Kumar and Yadav will eventually give us an idea as to who holds the edge at the upcoming Olympic games.

Narsingh Yadav of team Bengaluru (Rs. 34.5 lakhs) won India an Olympic quota spot in the 74kg category while Sushil Kumar of Team UP (38.20 lakhs) has not been involved in a match situation since August 2014.

The two-time Olympic medallist – who has been the face of Indian wrestling over the years – last won a gold at the Commonwealth games 2014.

This bout will most likely be the main attraction when UP takes on Bengaluru on 19th Dec in Noida (UP).