Manisha Bhanwala eyes Olympic qualification after historic Wrestling World Champions gold, credits PWL for her growth

Fresh from creating history by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold at the Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Manisha Bhanwala is now gearing up for Season 6 of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL).

The 29-year-old, who previously represented the Maharashtra Kesari franchise alongside several international champions, believes her experience in the league played a significant role in preparing her for the biggest stage. She credited its demanding schedule and the opportunity to train alongside elite international wrestlers for strengthening her ability to handle pressure.

Manisha also opened up about the disappointment of missing out on a medal at the Asian Games, where she suffered a quarter-final defeat against Japan's Akari. Rather than allowing the setback to affect her preparations, she returned to training immediately after arriving in India.

"After that quarterfinal bout in the Asian Games against Japan's Akari, I was filled with frustration because I knew how much work I had put in. I landed in India on a Monday morning and was back at the training hall by evening. My coach told me to rest and focus on recovery, but I asked him, 'Did I win a medal that I should sit back and recover?' In those ten days between the Asian Games and the World Championships, I pushed myself without stopping. I knew I could not sit peacefully until I achieved what I set out to do," Manisha said.

The wrestler explained how competing in the league helped her manage the pressure of the World Championship final. The demanding schedule, which often requires wrestlers to compete on consecutive days, taught her to control her emotions and reset mentally between bouts.

"In traditional tournaments, you get weeks between events, but the Pro Wrestling League throws you straight into the fire. You wrestle a world-class bout today and have to reset your mindset immediately for another one tomorrow. That routine taught me to control my emotions and stay calm. When I made the world final in Astana, I put my phone away and conserved all my nervous energy, just like we do during back-to-back league ties," she added.

Manisha further highlighted how sharing training facilities and locker rooms with international champions helped remove the psychological barrier of facing accomplished foreign opponents.

"Earlier, you only saw foreign champions across the mat at international events, which created a bit of hesitation. In the PWL, you share the locker room and training mats with them. I spent weeks sparring and analysing holds with world champions like Bilyana Dudova and top wrestlers from Armenia. Once you train together daily, you realise they are human too. It gave me the conviction that Indian wrestlers can dominate on any stage," she said.

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Manisha Eyes Olympic Qualification

With the sixth season of PWL set to take place in Delhi, Manisha sees the competition as an important opportunity to fine-tune her preparations ahead of the Olympic qualification cycle. Known for her aggressive and unconventional approach, she is also looking to test herself before moving into the Olympic 57kg category.

"My coaches often joke that my attacks do not even have official names because of my attacking style. Season 6 in Delhi is happening at the perfect time because the Olympic qualifiers begin next year. Real match practice under bright lights against elite foreign opponents will give me the sharpness I need to earn that Olympic quota," she said.

Manisha also stressed the need to change perceptions about wrestling, pointing out that the sport demands much more than physical strength.

"Many people still assume wrestling is only about raw muscle or mud pits, but it is a game of microseconds where your brain has to work faster than your limbs. The PWL brings that speed and strategy to television, showing everyone just how modern and technical our sport is," she concluded.