Mumbai, Aug 26:
Freestyle wrestlers from 50 countries and weighing between 85 and 125 kgs would be invited for the open weight category “Vishwavijeta Gama” Wrestling Championship to be held in India and Dubai in December and on offer is Rs one crore and a golden mace for the winner.
This was announced today at a media conference by the promoters of the event in the presence of Wrestling Federation of India’s secretary, V N Prasood.
The event has got the green signal from the world governing body, United World Wrestling, it was announced by organisers – Dreams Marvel Private Limited.
“There would be Olympic and World Champions in fray. Each country would nominate two wrestlers. The preliminary rounds to pick ten wrestlers for the round robin leg of 45 bouts would be held in four centres to be decided in consultation of WFI and Maharashtra Wrestling Association,” said a spokesperson for the promoters.
“Royalty has been promised to UWW for the next eleven years to conduct the event and and an MoU has been signed. We have its permission. Prize money to the tune of Rs 4.5 crore has been budgeted,” he added.
According to the organisers the wrestlers from overseas would be placed in four preliminary groups while Indian grapplers would be in the fifth to spot the ten wrestlers for the round robin leg.
The semi final and final will be held in Dubai, it was announced.
The winner would also take home a gold crown and a golden mace weighing one kg, along with the winner’s prize of USD 150,000 while the runner-up would get USD 75,000 (Rs 50 lakh) and a silver shield weighing 5 kg. The two semi final losers would pocket USD 38,000 each (Rs 25 lakh each).
The wrestlers in the round robin stage would also get Rs 25 lakh, according to the organisers.
“There would be doping control and we will be informing National Anti Doping Agency,” said WFI secretary Prasood.
Dope-tainted grappler Narsingh Yadav, who has been banned for four years by the Court of Arbitration in Sports during the Rio Olympics, was among those who were to be present at the launch, as per the invite for the event. (PTI)
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