India’s U23 World Champion Sujeet Kalkal stood out in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 Category A auction, where Delhi Dangal Warriors secured him for ₹52 lakh. The team also added Iran’s Hadi Vafaeipour and Mexico’s Karla Acosta in different weight categories. Haryana Thunders made a significant move by acquiring Olympic medalist Iryna Koliadenko for ₹44 lakh.
Maharashtra Kesari focused on depth, securing Asian Games medallist Deepak Punia and Manisha Bhanvala. Punjab Royals signed Dinesh Gulia, Priya Malik, and Roksana Zasina across various weight categories. UP Dominators added Nisha Dahiya and Rahul Dalal to their roster, while Tigers of Mumbai Dangal did not make any picks in this round.
The ongoing auction process categorizes wrestlers into A+, A, B, and C, with different base prices. The league operates with a total purse of ₹12 crore, allowing each franchise ₹2 crore to build squads competing in nine weight categories. In the previous round, women wrestlers were highly sought after, with notable bids for top athletes.
Delhi Dangal Warriors, Maharashtra Kesari, UP Dominators, and other teams made strategic signings to strengthen their squads. The auction process is still underway, with franchises expected to further refine their rosters as the PWL 2026 auction progresses.
