The much in demand real-life 'Dangal' girls -- Geeta and Babita -- were roped in by the Uttar Pradesh franchise, which also exploited the success of Aamir Khan-starrer Bollywood movie and chose to name their team 'UP Dangal' in PWL-2.
However, in a statement issued late evening, UP Dangal team owners said Babita will be undergoing rehab after suffering an injury in the opening bout of the team, indicating that all was not well with her.
Regarding Geeta, whose participation also remained doubtful, they sought to clarify that confirm that Geeta Phogat of UP Dangal team she will take part in the "subsequent matches" of ongoing Pro Wrestling League.
Earlier, uncertainty hovered over the two star wrestlers' particpation in the tournament.
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While some sources had claimed that Geeta was under the weather with high fever, others said that she was carrying some niggles.
Pinki has been named as a replacement for Babita in women's 53kg, while Manisha has been brought in place of Geeta in women's 58kg. Another grappler Reshma Mane, who fights in a higher weight category, has been asked to reduce her weight to fit into 58kg, so that she could be an eventual replacement of Geeta as she is a better wrestler than Manisha.
"Geeta and Babita are not pulling out of the tournament. They would be sticking with the team but in all probability would not take part in the competition further," a top official in the WFI had told PTI earlier in the day.
(REOPENS DEL 68)
Meanwhile, owing to Mumbai blocking women's 53kg, Babita sat out of the tie yesterday.
In UP Dangal's opening match against Haryana Hammers, UP had chosen to block Geeta's category, while Babita was thrashed by Rio Olympics bronze-medallist Sofia Mattsson in just 46 seconds by virtue of a 'Win by Fall' verdict.
"Also the fact that the promotion of the movie Dangal had not allowed enough time to both Geeta and Babita to prepare for the tournament. There is a slight chance that they would be seen in action in the rest of the competition but even if they do, it would not be more than one or two bouts," the source had added.
"Geeta and Babita have suffered injuries as luggage fell on their feet while they were going for the Kapil Sharma Show. But they would be fine soon and would certainly be fighting in the tournament," Rakhi Sharma, Investors Clinic's AVP Marketing and Communications, had claimed.
Before the start of the tournament, both Geeta and Babita had said that they were unable to practice as much as they would have liked to as they were busy in the promotion of the movie.