Power, Passion, and Purpose: How Dayaan Farooqui and Akhil Gupta Are Bringing Kushti to Every Home
In a world obsessed with glamour, speed, and instant fame, two young leaders are choosing to bring back something raw, real, and deeply Indian – kushti, the sport that has lived in our villages for centuries. Dayaan Farooqui and Akhil Gupta, the driving forces behind the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), aren’t just building another sports brand. They’re reigniting a movement – one that’s set to make wrestling India’s next big league after IPL.
For Dayaan Farooqui, the Promoter and Chairman, this journey is about giving wrestling the glory it has always deserved. He speaks with quiet conviction and unshakable belief in India’s sporting potential. “Kushti has always represented strength, character, and pride. We want every young Indian to connect with that energy – to see wrestling not as an old sport, but as a modern spectacle,” he says.
Akhil Gupta, the Promoter and CEO, adds the business intelligence to that emotion. With his grounded confidence and clear vision, Gupta has shaped the operational and commercial side of the league – one that gives wrestlers recognition, stability, and a platform to shine. “The IPL changed how we see cricket. The PWL will do the same for wrestling,” Gupta says with an assured smile. “It’s time our athletes became icons, our matches became global, and our sport became a source of national pride.”
Both men have different strengths – Farooqui, the dreamer and strategist, sees the big picture; Gupta, the builder and leader, executes it to perfection. What unites them is purpose – the belief that India’s ancient sport can thrive on the world’s modern stage. Their decision to acquire the Pro Wrestling League rights from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) through ONO Media was more than a business move – it was a statement of intent.
Together, they are creating a world-class league – one with franchise-based teams, elite Indian and international wrestlers, cutting-edge production, and fan engagement that rivals any global sporting event. But what makes this league different is its heart. It’s not about glitz for its own sake – it’s about bringing wrestling home to millions who grew up watching bouts in local akhadas, now reimagined in grand arenas.
Both Dayaan and Akhil have been personally involved in every detail – from brand partnerships to athlete interactions. They have spent time with wrestlers, heard their stories, and built a structure that values the athlete as much as the audience. “Every great league is built on emotion,” says Dayaan. “You can buy production and marketing, but passion – that has to come from the people. And wrestling already has that. It’s part of who we are.”
As young leaders, they represent a new kind of entrepreneurship in India – one that’s not just about profit but about purpose. Their blend of vision and empathy has already started to inspire others across industries. They talk about wrestling, but what they’re really championing is transformation – of a sport, a culture, and a generation.
With ONO Media powering the league’s storytelling and distribution, the Pro Wrestling League is expected to reach millions of viewers in India and abroad. The energy is infectious, the buzz is building, and the dream is clear: wrestling is no longer a sport of the past – it’s the spectacle of the future.
As India prepares to witness this new sporting era, Dayaan Farooqui and Akhil Gupta stand not just as entrepreneurs, but as changemakers redefining what Indian pride looks like in the modern age. They’re proving that the future of Indian sport doesn’t always begin with a bat or a ball – sometimes, it begins on the mat.
