Dayaan Farooqui and Akhil Gupta revive Indian wrestling with the Pro Wrestling League, blending tradition, vision, and global innovation.
Pro Wrestling League
In India’s ever-evolving sports landscape, two names are emerging as the architects of a quiet revolution - Dayaan Farooqui and Akhil Gupta. They are not just building a league; they are building a legacy. Their shared dream is bold yet rooted - to make the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) the next big sporting phenomenon after IPL, while bringing kushti, India’s oldest sport, into the heart of every home.
When they speak, it’s easy to see why their partnership works. Dayaan Farooqui, the Promoter and Chairman, is a visionary - someone who sees beyond business metrics to the cultural impact of what he’s creating. He speaks with purpose and clarity. “Kushti has always represented India’s strength - physical, emotional, and cultural,” he says. “We’re not just promoting a sport; we’re reviving an identity.”
Akhil Gupta, the Promoter and CEO, complements that energy with pragmatism and precision. A believer in systems, structure, and scalability, Gupta is leading the league’s transformation with an athlete-first mindset. “When athletes thrive, the sport thrives,” he says. “Our goal is to build a sustainable ecosystem where wrestlers can dream big, earn big, and inspire millions.”
Their acquisition of the Pro Wrestling League rights from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) through ONO Media was a turning point - not just for wrestling, but for Indian sports at large. The move marked a new era of professionalism, where vision meets execution, and tradition meets technology.
Under their leadership, ONO Media is infusing the league with world-class production, franchise ownership, digital innovation, and storytelling. But beyond the technical brilliance, what makes this project powerful is its emotion. It’s about giving Indian wrestling - and its unsung heroes - the platform they deserve.
Farooqui believes that sports can be both a business and a movement. “Every league that succeeds becomes more than competition - it becomes a culture,” he explains. “The IPL did that for cricket. The PWL will do that for wrestling. It will connect generations - from those who remember the akhada, to the young fans discovering the sport for the first time.”
Gupta echoes this sentiment, adding that authenticity will be the league’s biggest differentiator. “We are not importing a format and pasting it onto wrestling. We’re building something that feels Indian, but looks global. That’s the balance we’re proud of,” he says.
Together, they represent the new face of Indian leadership - young, bold, and purpose-driven. Both share a deep sense of responsibility towards athletes, fans, and the legacy of the sport itself. Their partnership reflects a rare harmony of vision and execution, idealism and realism.
The Pro Wrestling League will feature franchise teams, regional representation, and a powerful mix of homegrown and international talent. The energy around its return is palpable - fans, brands, and broadcasters are already calling it India’s next big league after IPL. But for Dayaan and Akhil, the real success will come when every child watching the league believes that wrestling, too, can be a dream worth chasing.
“This isn’t just about sport,” says Dayaan thoughtfully. “It’s about national pride, discipline, and the power of our roots.”
“And it’s about rewriting the story of Indian athletes,” adds Akhil. “For too long, our wrestlers have trained in silence. Now, it’s time they’re celebrated in stadiums.”
Their journey is a reminder that great leaders don’t just build organizations - they build belief. Through the PWL, Dayaan Farooqui and Akhil Gupta are doing exactly that. They’re not only reviving a sport; they’re reigniting a nation’s passion.
And in the process, they’re proving that the next great Indian success story might not come from a boardroom - but from the wrestling mat.
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