The Pro Wrestling League's star quotient took a massive hit after one of the Phogat sisters, who are in the limelight following a blockbuster biopic on their struggle, were today ruled out of the ongoing season.
The much in demand real-life 'Dangal' girls -- Geeta and Babita -- were roped in by the Uttar Pradesh franchise, which also exploited the success of Aamir Khan-starrer Bollywood movie and chose to name its team 'UP Dangal' in PWL-2.
However, in a statement issued late evening, UP Dangal team owners said Babita will be undergoing rehab after suffering an injury in the opening bout of the team, indicating that all was not well with her.
"Babita suffered an injury in a comeback match v Sofia Mattsson at the opening bout of UP Dangal and will undergo rehab for the injury suffered during that match," UP Dangal said in a statement.
Regarding Geeta, whose participation also remained doubtful, it sought to clarify which confirms that Geeta Phogat of UP Dangal team will take part in the "subsequent matches" of ongoing Pro Wrestling League.
Earlier, uncertainty hovered over the two star wrestlers' particpation in the tournament. While some sources had claimed that Geeta was under the weather with high fever, others said that she was carrying some niggles.
According to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), replacements were sought by the UP team for both Geeta and Babita. Pinki has been named as a replacement for Babita in women's 53kg, while Manisha has been brought in place of Geeta in women's 58kg.
Another grappler Reshma Mane, who fights in a higher weight category, has been asked to reduce her weight to fit into 58kg, so that she could be an eventual replacement of Geeta as she is a better wrestler than Manisha.
"Geeta and Babita are not pulling out of the tournament. They would be sticking with the team but in all probability would not take part in the competition further," a top official in the WFI had told the agencies earlier in the day.
"In place of Babita, Pinki has been included in the UP Dangal squad, while Manisha has come in for Geeta for the time being but she is expected to eventually be replaced by Reshma Mane as UP team wanted her on the basis of her being a better grappler," the source had added.
In the match against Mumbai Maharathis last night, UP Dangal had fielded Manisha in place of Geeta in women's 58kg as the veteran wrestler was down with high fever and had been advised by her doctor not to take part in the match. Manisha lost 1-9 to Mumbai's Sarita.
Meanwhile, owing to Mumbai blocking women’s 53kg, Babita sat out of the tie yesterday. In UP Dangal’s opening match against Haryana Hammers, UP had chosen to block Geeta’s category, while Babita was thrashed by Rio Olympics bronze-medallist Sofia Mattsson in just 46 seconds by virtue of a ‘Win by Fall’ verdict.
“No one expected Babita to pull off the bout against Sofia, who is a very very strong wrestler, but going down in just 46 seconds dented Babita’s confidence badly. She could have given atleast a good fight had she been 100 per cent fit but Babita was already carrying some niggle,” a source close to Babita had claimed.
“Also the fact that the promotion of the movie Dangal had not allowed enough time to both Geeta and Babita to prepare for the tournament. There is a slight chance that they would be seen in action in the rest of the competition but even if they do, it would not be more than one or two bouts,” the source had added.
The UP Dangal team owners Investors Clinic had earlier in the day officially denied that either Geeta or Babita are doubtful for the remaining part of the competition, claiming that both would be fighting as soon as they are fit enough.
Before the start of the tournament, both Geeta and Babita had said that they were unable to practice as much as they would have liked to as they were busy in the promotion of the movie.
“Yes, we have been busy with the interviews and promotion of the movie but still we make sure to train at least once everyday. Generally we train twice a day,” Babita and Geeta had earlier said.
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