Along the way in the ongoing Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League Season -2, Haryana Hammers and Jaipur Ninjas will play the first semifinal match in Delhi on Wednesday. The days highlight will include a non-wrestling personality, Baba Ramdev; yes, the Yogaguru’s challenge to 2008 Olympic silver medalist Andrey Stadnik for a wrestling bout has become the talk of the town.
Indian fans have some hate-love emotions with Stadnik. Stadnik is well remembered by Indian wrestling enthusiasts as he had defeated Indian star wrestler Sushil Kumar in the Beijing Olympic, and as Andrey reached the finals, it gave Sushil an opportunity to play in repechage and win a bronze medal.
Today, just Before the 2nd semifinal, these two will play a friendly bout. Baba Ramdev says, he exercises stamina building activities daily and whenever he gets time, he visits akhara to study wrestling.
Speaking about Wrestling sport and his association with it, Ramdev said, “I have fought bouts with national level wrestlers. But playing against an internationally renowned player will be more exciting. You will witness the real power of Yoga in this match.” The ongoing edition of the tournament is sponsored by Patanjali Ayurved Limited, owned by Baba Ramdev.
Andrey, on the other hand, was surprised when he heard about the challenge. But after getting knowledge of Baba Ramdev’s preparations, he believes that he must fight with all his strength.
If you flip over the pages of recent history, you’ll know that this is not the first time, this Yogaguru has shown interest in friendly bouts. Last year also, on the occasion of 20th anniversary of their Ashram in Haridwar, Baba had challenged double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar.
And recently, at one event organized by an India-based leading electronic media channel, he had a friendly dance competition with one of the current Bollywood stars, Ranveer Singh where Singh lost to the Yoga Guru.
Coming back to the story, the international wrestler was impressed with the energy of yoga guru and said, he would have been one of the best wrestler in India, if he had taken over the sport.