MUMBAI: The Chinese Wrestling Association (CWA) has reached out to its Indian counterpart, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to invite Hindi film superstar Aamir Khan for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships in February 2019 in China, The Tribune reports.
Zhang Ye, who is a member of the United World Wrestling’s (UWW) technical committee and a member of the Asian Associated Wrestling Council (AAWC), is said to have approached the WFI twice on this matter. In an initial response, WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has guaranteed China that he will speak to the actor on their behalf and do what it takes to convince him for a day’s appearance there.
Khan’s 2016 blockbuster movie, Dangal not just registered worldwide box office figures of Rs 20 billion, but grossed a colossal $190 million from China alone. He played the role of Mahavir Singh Phogat, the former Indian wrestler who went on to train his two daughters, Geeta and Babita who continue to excel at international events for India in the sport. The real-life duo could also feature in the Chinese event if they get selected at the trials.
The movie was also well-received by South Korean President Kim Jung Sook, who had invited the wrestlers for a dinner during her visit to India in July.
“The Chinese are very keen to have Aamir Khan’s presence during the event. They have approached us twice already. They said they will be happy if the superstar (Khan) comes for a day as that would make it a successful event,” a source from the WFI was quoted as saying to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity.
Should the celebrated actor, fondly called Uncle Aamir in China, opt to go, he would extend his association with sport further as he is also an integral part of Maharashtra government-backed projects such as the Water Polo Cup and Mission Shakti (which aims to train talented, young athletes at a world-class academy to make them Olympic champions by 2024).
