MUMBAI: After a low key entry into the sports arena in 2017, Zee Talkies, the Marathi movie channel from Indian media conglomerate Zee Entertainment Enterprises, has made a far bigger splash with the second edition of its franchise based wrestling property — Zee Maharashtra Kusti Dangal.
To be held from 2nd to 18 November at The Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex (Balewadi Stadium) in Pune, six state teams are participating in the league.
The six teams representing different cities across Maharashtra have 12 players each, picked at an auction Friday where over 100 state, national & international wrestlers were in the reckoning, the organisers assert.
Bavesh Janavlekar, business head of Zee Talkies and Zee Yuva channels, said: “With young men having grown up in the wrestling culture in Maharashtra, many have become professional wrestlers that have won accolades for the state and the nation. It is a matter of great pride for us for being instrumental in presenting the wrestling champions of Maharashtra state with a distinct forum of honour through the setting up of the ‘Zee Maharashtra Kusti Dangal.
“We received an excellent response to win the ownership of various teams. Looking forward to introducing the world to a stellar line-up of Wrestling Champs, backed by their team owners who take great pride in them.
“We hope that through this initiative, we will bring focus to players who will not only be able to represent the state and country in the upcoming 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, but also bring fame and pride to the wrestling fraternity of the country.”
The team owners and players were unveiled at a live auction event here at the weekend. The six teams consist of three celebrities and three dignataries from different fields.
Team owners:
Puneri Ustaad – Shantaram Manve & Paritosh Painter
Mumbai Astraa – Rajesh Dake
Yashwant Satara – Purushottam Jadhav
Kolhapuri Maavle – Actress Sai Tamhankar
Vidharbhachi Wagh – Actor Swwapnil Joshi
Veer Marathwada – Nagraj Manjule (Sairat movie director)
