Noida, February 2: Yui Susaki, the captain of the Haryana Thunders and one of the world’s top female wrestlers, will play in the next season of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), confirmed PWL CEO Akhil Gupta after the conclusion of the fifth season. Susaki led Haryana Thunders to victory in the 2026 PWL final held at Noida Indoor Stadium.
Susaki, who won the gold medal in the women’s 50 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. Despite facing her first international defeat against India’s Vinesh Phogat at the Paris Olympics 2024, she secured a bronze medal through the repechage round. She is a four-time world champion, having won her first world title in 2017.
Gupta shared that he recently met Susaki, who assured him of her participation in the next season. “We need this kind of motivation. When we first dreamed of this league, we never imagined it would reach this level,” said Gupta. He noted the packed stadium with no empty seats and strong demand for tickets outside, highlighting the growing support for the league.
Responding to discussions about foreign coaches, Gupta praised Indian coaches for their dedication and excellent work with their teams, emphasizing that their efforts are more visible on the ground than on television.
Looking ahead, Gupta revealed plans to expand the league beyond freestyle wrestling by including Greco-Roman wrestling. The proposal has received backing from representatives, including the Vice President of United World Wrestling. Gupta assured cooperation with the Wrestling Federation of India to ensure India’s strong presence across all wrestling styles, though this expansion will take time.
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