With Dayaan Farooqui in charge, PWL taking wrestling to higher pedestal

Noida: Dayaan Farooqui, Chairman of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), is reimagining one of country’s oldest sporting traditions. He is not just running a successful league, but transforming wrestling into a cultural force.

Farooqui believes wrestling is embedded in India’s DNA, evolving naturally from the akhada to the international mat. What the sport has lacked, he asserts, is not talent or legacy, but a platform.

Under his leadership, PWL is positioned as a league designed to elevate wrestling’s visibility, storytelling and stature, giving it the grandeur expected of a modern professional sport while honouring its homegrown origins.

Balancing commercialization with authenticity remains central to Farooqui’s philosophy. While PWL embraces modern production, global standards and league economics, the essence of Indian wrestling remains untouched. The league consciously preserves the discipline, grit and cultural ethos that define the sport, ensuring that as wrestling grows globally, it does so without losing its Indian identity. Farooqui’s long-term ambition is clear: to build wrestling into a global sporting superpower that still feels unmistakably Indian.

A critical marker of success, according to Farooqui, will be when wrestling becomes aspirational for the younger generation. His vision extends beyond packed arenas and broadcast numbers — he wants wrestling to become a Gen Z way of life. The rising participation of young athletes in PWL already signals this shift, as the league inspires a new generation to see wrestling not as a niche pursuit, but as a mainstream career with national recognition and pride.

Women’s wrestling stands at the heart of PWL’s evolving structure, reflecting Farooqui’s commitment to meaningful inclusivity. With the 2026 format placing renewed emphasis on gender parity, the league is implementing concrete structural changes to ensure women’s wrestling is competitive, visible and integral — not symbolic. By creating consistent exposure, competitive depth and a clear progression pathway, PWL aims to drive a genuine transformation in women’s wrestling at both national and international levels.

Looking toward the next decade, Farooqui envisions PWL as a cornerstone of India’s grassroots sports ecosystem. His legacy goal is ambitious yet deeply rooted in purpose — to make wrestling evoke the same passion, aspiration and mass appeal as cricket, while consistently producing world-class and Olympic champions. If realized, Dayaan Farooqui’s vision will not only redefine the Pro Wrestling League, but also secure wrestling’s rightful place at the heart of India’s sporting future.

Tags : Pro Wrestling League, Dayaan Farooqui, DNA, PWL, Gen Z