New Delhi, 04 January (H.S.): In the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 player auction, women wrestlers left a tremendous impression. The auction's biggest attraction was Japan's star wrestler and Tokyo Olympic gold medal winner Yui Susaki, whom Haryana Thunders included in their team by bidding a record 60 lakh rupees. This is the highest amount ever for any woman wrestler in PWL auction history.

Star Signings Galore

Women's 53 kg weight class World Championship medal winner India's Antim Panghal was bought by UP Dominators for 52 lakh rupees. Meanwhile, women's 62 kg category Puerto Rico's Ana Godinez was added to Punjab Royals' team for 46 lakh rupees. Additionally, Delhi Danga Warriors bought women's 76 kg category Azerbaijan's Anastasia Alpaiyeva for 27 lakh rupees.

In the auction, Category A+ (marquee) all wrestlers' base price was kept at 18 lakh rupees, but bids on many players went far beyond that. Men's category also saw big deals, where Poland's Robert Baran was bought by Maharashtra Kesari for 55 lakh rupees.

Meanwhile, Paris Olympic bronze medal winner Aman Sehrawat was made part of Tigers of Mumbai Danga team for 51 lakh rupees. Delhi Danga Warriors added Azerbaijan's Turan Bayramov, while UP Dominators included Mikhailov Vasil and Armen Andreasyan to strengthen their team.

Auction Mechanics

PWL 2026 auction process is still ongoing. Players are divided into four categories — A+ (marquee), A, B, and C — with base prices respectively 18 lakh, 12 lakh, 8 lakh, and 3 lakh rupees set. League's total purse is 12 crore rupees, with six franchises allocated 2-2 crore rupees each.

Teams will compete in nine weight classes (five men's and four women's).Each team must form a squad of 9 to 12 wrestlers, including four foreign players (two men and two women) mandatory. Along with this, each team must have at least one Category C wrestler. Upcoming rounds expect auction to intensify further, where franchises will finalize their teams for PWL 2026.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar