New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) The triumphant comeback of the Professional Wrestling League (PWL) at the start of this year continues to showcase its influence on a global scale. Numerous wrestlers, both Indian and international, who participated in the highly successful Season 5, have since achieved remarkable feats in major competitions worldwide.

Taking place at the Noida Indoor Stadium in January, PWL Season 5 brilliantly united elite wrestlers with both established and upcoming Indian talent, solidifying its status as a leading competitive arena in the country. The league's impact is evident in the outstanding performances of various grapplers, who have excelled in international events, highlighting the significance of a robust domestic competition framework.

Leading the pack is Sujeet Kalkal, who has risen to become one of the top wrestlers globally in the men’s 65kg category. Currently ranked World No. 2 behind Iran’s reigning world champion and Olympic silver medallist, Rahman Amouzad, Sujeet represented the Delhi Dangal Warriors in PWL Season 5, finishing as runner-up after winning six out of seven matches.

Since the league's end, Sujeet has clinched three consecutive international gold medals, winning titles at the Ranking Series events in Zagreb and Muhamet Malo, before securing the Asian Championship title in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, earlier this month.

In the women’s 53kg category, Meenakshi Goyat has emerged as another significant success from PWL Season 5. Representing the Punjab Royals, Meenakshi won all three of her matches in the league and continued her success into the national trials, defeating Antim Panghal to earn her spot on the Indian team.

She subsequently won silver medals at both the Muhamet Malo tournament and the Asian Championships in Bishkek, further establishing her credentials on the international scene.

Other noteworthy performers include Olympic silver medallist Aman Sehrawat (men’s 61kg) from the Tigers of Mumbai Dangals, who earned silver medals in both Zagreb and Bishkek, while Dinesh Dhankhad (men’s 125kg) from the Punjab Royals secured bronze medals at both events.

Neha Sangwan of Haryana Thunders also shone with a silver medal at Muhamet Malo and a bronze in Bishkek. A standout performance came from the promising Indian star Abhimanyou in the men’s 70kg category. The 24-year-old CISF constable, who represented the UP Dominators in the league, achieved gold in Bishkek by defeating the legendary Mongolian wrestler Tömör-Ochiryn Tulga in the final—an Asian Games champion and two-time world medallist.

The league’s impact is also evident among international stars. Canadian world medallist Karla Godinez Gonzalez, who competed for the Delhi Dangal Warriors, earned silver in Zagreb, while Japanese wrestling icon Yui Susaki, part of the title-winning Haryana Thunders team, added another Asian title to her illustrious career in Bishkek.

With the Asian Games and the World Championships set for later this year, the performances of wrestlers from PWL Season 5, particularly those from India, bode well for the nation’s prospects on both continental and global stages.

The ongoing success of athletes emerging from PWL Season 5 further underscores the league’s pivotal role in enhancing India’s wrestling ecosystem and providing a premier platform for high-level competition.