Olympic champion Maroulis to compete for Haryana Hammers in India Pro League which starts January 9
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Photo of Helen Maroulis by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors. Logos courtesy of India Professional Wrestling League.
2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Helen Maroulis (New York, N.Y./Sunkist Kids) has signed to compete for the Haryana Hammers in the third season of the India Professional Wrestling League, which begins competition on January 9, and is scheduled to run through January 23.
Maroulis becomes the third U.S. athlete to participate in the India Professional League. In the first season, which was held during December 2015, three-time World champion Adeline Gray and two-time World medalist Alyssa Lampe participated in this professional league. No U.S. wrestlers competed in the second season of the league.
“I am so excited to be part of India’s Pro Wrestling League Season Three, especially with the Haryana Hammers,” Maroulis said via Twitter.
There will be six teams competing in the league this year: Haryana Hammers, NCR Punjab Royals, Mumbai Maharathi, Delhi Sultans, UP Dangal and Veer Marathas. There will be one dual meet each night.
Most of the top international wrestlers from India compete in the league, plus a number of top international stars from other nations. Athletes were selected via a draft held in late December.
According to media reports in India, two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar received the highest bid during the league auction for 55 lakh (approx..$86,000), with Maroulis getting the highest bid for women at 44 lakh (approx. $69,000). The auction included 256 athletes from 26 countries. The final selection included 54 athletes from 16 countries.
The league indicates that there will be 11 Olympic medalists, 23 Olympians and 23 World medalists on the third season, which will be aired LIVE on Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD, Sony LIV and Sony WAH from 7pm to 9pm every day in India.
According to media reports in India, some of the stars drafted to compete this year in the league include Olympic champions Soslan Ramonov of Russia (65 kg) and Natalia Vorobieva of Russia (76 kg), plus World champions Haji Aliev of Azerbaijan (65 kg), Geno Petriashvili of Georgia (125 kg), Hassan Rahimi of Iran (57 kg), Khetik Tsabalov of Russia (74 kg) and Sun Yanan of China (50 kg).
As in past years, not all of the athletes who are drafted decide to participate in the league. There is expected to be some changes in the team lineups when the third season kicks off on Tuesday, January 9.
In the first season, Gray led the Mumbai team to the league title, serving as its team captain. Gray went a perfect 7-0 in the dual meets held during the first season. Lampe competed on the Bengaluru team, which lost to Gray’s Mumbai team in the league semifinals. Lampe finished with a 2-3 record during the first season.
Fans can follow the India Professional Wrestling League through its website at:
www.prowrestlingleague.com
TheMat.com will report on Helen’s achievements in the India Professional League throughout January.
TENTATIVE DRAFT ROSTERS ACCORDING TO INDIA MEDIA REPORTS
All athletes without a country listed are from India.
Haryana Hammers: Men: Hassan Rahimi of Iran (57 kg), Rajeesh (65 kg), Khetik Tsabalov of Russia (74kg), Rubaljeet Rangi (92 kg) Sumit (125 kg); Women: Sun Yanan of China (50 kg), Helen Maroulis of the USA (57 kg), Sarita Mann (62 kg), Pooja (76 kg).
Mumbai Maharathi: Men: Andrei Yatsenko of Ukraine (57 kg), Soslan Ramonov of Russia (65kg), Veerdev Gulia, (74 kg) Satyavrat Kadian (92 kg), Satyendra Malik (125 kg) Women: Seema (59 kg), Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria (57 kg), Sakshi Malik (62 kg), Cynthia Vescan of France (76 kg).
UP Dangal: Men: Men: Rahul Aware (57 kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg), Bekzod Abdurakhmunov of Uzbekistan (74 kg), Somvir (92kg), Komeil Ghasemi of Iran (125 kg); Women: Vinesh Phogat (50 kg), Aisuluu Tynbekova of Kazakhstan (57 kg), Geeta Phogat (62 kg), Zsanett Nemeth of Hungary (76 kg).
Delhi Sultans: Men: Sandeep Tomar (57 kg), Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan (65kg), Sushil Kumar (74 kg), Aslan Albarov of Azerbaijan (92 kg), Hitendra (125kg),Women: Maroi Mezian of Tunisia (50kg) Sangeeta Phogat (57kg), Monia (62kg), Samar Amer Ibrahim Hamza of Egypt (76kg).
Punjab Royals: Men: Utkarsh Kale (57 kg), Ilias Bekbulotov of Russia (65kg), Jitendra (74 kg), Mausam Khatri (92 kg), Geno Petriashivli of Georgia (125 kg), Women: Nirmala Devi (50 kg), Puja Dhanda (57 kg), Anastasija Grigorieva of Latvia (62 kg); Koumba Larouque of France (76 kg).
Veer Marathas: Men: Sarwan (57kg), Amit Dhankar (65kg), Parveen Rana (74 kg), Georgi Ketoev of Armenia (92 kg), Levan Berianidze of Armenia (125kg) Women: Ritu Phogat (50 kg), Mawra Amri of Tunisia (57 kg), Ritu Malik (62 Kg), Natalya Vorobieva of Russia (76kg).
Note: Final rosters are expected to reflect some changes when the season launches January 9.
2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Helen Maroulis (New York, N.Y./Sunkist Kids) has signed to compete for the Haryana Hammers in the third season of the India Professional Wrestling League, which begins competition on January 9, and is scheduled to run through January 23.
Maroulis becomes the third U.S. athlete to participate in the India Professional League. In the first season, which was held during December 2015, three-time World champion Adeline Gray and two-time World medalist Alyssa Lampe participated in this professional league. No U.S. wrestlers competed in the second season of the league.
“I am so excited to be part of India’s Pro Wrestling League Season Three, especially with the Haryana Hammers,” Maroulis said via Twitter.
There will be six teams competing in the league this year: Haryana Hammers, NCR Punjab Royals, Mumbai Maharathi, Delhi Sultans, UP Dangal and Veer Marathas. There will be one dual meet each night.
Most of the top international wrestlers from India compete in the league, plus a number of top international stars from other nations. Athletes were selected via a draft held in late December.
According to media reports in India, two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar received the highest bid during the league auction for 55 lakh (approx..$86,000), with Maroulis getting the highest bid for women at 44 lakh (approx. $69,000). The auction included 256 athletes from 26 countries. The final selection included 54 athletes from 16 countries.
The league indicates that there will be 11 Olympic medalists, 23 Olympians and 23 World medalists on the third season, which will be aired LIVE on Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD, Sony LIV and Sony WAH from 7pm to 9pm every day in India.
According to media reports in India, some of the stars drafted to compete this year in the league include Olympic champions Soslan Ramonov of Russia (65 kg) and Natalia Vorobieva of Russia (76 kg), plus World champions Haji Aliev of Azerbaijan (65 kg), Geno Petriashvili of Georgia (125 kg), Hassan Rahimi of Iran (57 kg), Khetik Tsabalov of Russia (74 kg) and Sun Yanan of China (50 kg).
As in past years, not all of the athletes who are drafted decide to participate in the league. There is expected to be some changes in the team lineups when the third season kicks off on Tuesday, January 9.
In the first season, Gray led the Mumbai team to the league title, serving as its team captain. Gray went a perfect 7-0 in the dual meets held during the first season. Lampe competed on the Bengaluru team, which lost to Gray’s Mumbai team in the league semifinals. Lampe finished with a 2-3 record during the first season.
Fans can follow the India Professional Wrestling League through its website at:
www.prowrestlingleague.com
TheMat.com will report on Helen’s achievements in the India Professional League throughout January.
TENTATIVE DRAFT ROSTERS ACCORDING TO INDIA MEDIA REPORTS
All athletes without a country listed are from India.
Haryana Hammers: Men: Hassan Rahimi of Iran (57 kg), Rajeesh (65 kg), Khetik Tsabalov of Russia (74kg), Rubaljeet Rangi (92 kg) Sumit (125 kg); Women: Sun Yanan of China (50 kg), Helen Maroulis of the USA (57 kg), Sarita Mann (62 kg), Pooja (76 kg).
Mumbai Maharathi: Men: Andrei Yatsenko of Ukraine (57 kg), Soslan Ramonov of Russia (65kg), Veerdev Gulia, (74 kg) Satyavrat Kadian (92 kg), Satyendra Malik (125 kg) Women: Seema (59 kg), Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria (57 kg), Sakshi Malik (62 kg), Cynthia Vescan of France (76 kg).
UP Dangal: Men: Men: Rahul Aware (57 kg), Bajrang Punia (65kg), Bekzod Abdurakhmunov of Uzbekistan (74 kg), Somvir (92kg), Komeil Ghasemi of Iran (125 kg); Women: Vinesh Phogat (50 kg), Aisuluu Tynbekova of Kazakhstan (57 kg), Geeta Phogat (62 kg), Zsanett Nemeth of Hungary (76 kg).
Delhi Sultans: Men: Sandeep Tomar (57 kg), Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan (65kg), Sushil Kumar (74 kg), Aslan Albarov of Azerbaijan (92 kg), Hitendra (125kg),Women: Maroi Mezian of Tunisia (50kg) Sangeeta Phogat (57kg), Monia (62kg), Samar Amer Ibrahim Hamza of Egypt (76kg).
Punjab Royals: Men: Utkarsh Kale (57 kg), Ilias Bekbulotov of Russia (65kg), Jitendra (74 kg), Mausam Khatri (92 kg), Geno Petriashivli of Georgia (125 kg), Women: Nirmala Devi (50 kg), Puja Dhanda (57 kg), Anastasija Grigorieva of Latvia (62 kg); Koumba Larouque of France (76 kg).
Veer Marathas: Men: Sarwan (57kg), Amit Dhankar (65kg), Parveen Rana (74 kg), Georgi Ketoev of Armenia (92 kg), Levan Berianidze of Armenia (125kg) Women: Ritu Phogat (50 kg), Mawra Amri of Tunisia (57 kg), Ritu Malik (62 Kg), Natalya Vorobieva of Russia (76kg).
Note: Final rosters are expected to reflect some changes when the season launches January 9.
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