Here are some facts about Women Wrestling Hub that we would like to clarify
1) We are just an organisation trying to promote women’s wrestling /test of strength
As the name suggests(Women Wrestling Hub), we focus solely on women’s wrestling. We want to promote women’s physical strength through events, content, and competitions (through scripted/non-scripted matches, mostly unscripted). All matches organised or showcased by us are conducted with the highest regard for safety, consent, and respect for all participants.
Participants featured in our content are enthusiasts who willingly engage in strength-based contests and wrestling under mutually agreed-upon conditions and established safety protocols. These activities are intended for entertainment and the promotion of gender equality in sports
We do not condone violence, exploitation, or any form of coercion. All imagery, content, and representations are strictly focused on celebrating women’s physical strength and their competitive spirit.
2) We are not a fetish store
Women’s wrestling is not and should not be treated as a fetish. Wrestling, whether by women or men, is a competitive sport that deserves to be viewed through a lens of fairness, athletic excellence, competitiveness and respect. Treating it as a fetish doesn’t just disservice the athletes ,rather it disservices the viewer’s way of thinking/viewing and the sport itself.
Objectification of women is the last thing we( Women Wrestling Hub) would want for our women or any women in general. Wrestling itself is a physical contact sport. Any sport is played for the purpose of winning . Our female enthusiasts/athletes are no different from that. They play just to win and not for meeting any other needs or fantasies.
Athletes/Enthusiasts give it all while they are testing their strengths or wrestling. Our aim is to create a community where we can all glorify the efforts of female wrestlers and respect them.
3) Use of short dresses in Wrestling/test of strength
Again, the purpose of short dresses is not to ignite any feelings /sexual desire. Wrestling is a physical contact sport. A saree/salwar is not always a great option because it can restrict movements or get in the way of executing /defending any chokes/moves. A singlet or any sports attire gives our athletes/enthusiasts their desired mobility and their freedom of movement. Judging them by their attire should not be the focus; what deserves attention is their strength, agility and their competitiveness. Let’s shift the narrative from how they look to how they perform.
Further, athletes/enthusiasts wear dresses according to their own free will. If someone is comfortable in only a saree or salwar, we execute their matches in a saree or salwar.
If you are an Indian, you must have heard of Bharat Kesari. For those who don’t know what Bharat Kesari is, it’s a wrestling tournament held in India. In this tournament, wrestlers rub themselves with mud before the match begins. The men wrestle bare-bodied wearing a langot. Langot is basically an Indian cotton loincloth worn tightly around the waist and groin for support during wrestling. Langots are usually short-lengthed, this short and minimal design allows a full range of motion for the legs and hips. In hot and humid Indian climates, the minimal design keeps the body cooler, especially during outdoor training or mud wrestling in akhadas. Now, this langot is kept short not for style or exposure, rather it’s the most practical, supportive, and efficient garment for traditional physical training and wrestling in India.
Just like we should not judge a male wrestler for wearing just a langot , judging a female for wearing short dress while wrestling makes no sense.Both are athletes dressed for their sport and not for our scrutiny.Further if a langot can be worn by a man while wrestling , if a woman/girl/lady decides to wrestle in bikini it should not raise eyebrows.If men can wrestle shirtless or in minimal gear without facing much scrutiny. Women should be afforded the same respect and luxury, without their attire being sexualized or judged unfairly.
In India, female bodybuilders wear bikinis to showcase their physique as part of the sport , if that is not considered sexual, then women’s wrestling in a bikini, when done in the right context and by choice, should be viewed with the same respect and athletic perspective.
Talk about modelling, Indians have excelled in the Miss Universe and Miss World stages.Does it have a bikini round? Research says “yes”.And guess what !! Indian women have owned that particular round like anything. What’s the purpose of that round? We guess we can keep it open for interpretation.
Also, most of the UFC or MMA weigh-ins have athletes weighing in in bikinis or minimal attire, not for show, but to ensure accurate weight readings while staying within the sport’s regulations and comfort preferences
4) Purpose of Rounds
We did not invent any round. All the rounds are either taken from MMA, pro wrestling (like WWE) or freestyle wrestling(like the Olympics).
Nose to nose : Taken from MMA. During staredown the athletes generally get close to each other and go forehead to forehead or nose to nose.The aim of that is to not ignite anything sexual , rather fighters do that to exert dominance and show their opponents that they are not afraid of them
Bearhug: Inspired from WWE and somewhat from real life. As kids, that was the general way of fighting.
Fingerlock : Again inspired from WWE and also thats a very Indian way of fighting.That’s a very common way of testing strength
Chest to chest : Can be seen a thousand times in MMA staredowns.Getting chest to chest is a way to intimidate the opponent.It sends the message: “I’m not afraid of you. I own this space.”Its a way to get inside your opponent’s head even before the match begins
Elbow collar tieup : A move very common in WWE and freestyle wrestling.Great way to tests strength
Lift and carry : Can be occasionally seen in Strongman Events and crossfit challenges.Another great way to test strength of athletes
Back to back : More of a fun round. The one who can push the other to the corner wins.
Yes we have storylines but the base rounds remain the same
5) Our matches are done privately; they should be done in the open
Our matches take place in studios in a protected environment. Wrestling is a micro-niche, and women’s wrestling appeals to an even smaller audience. Renting a studio is more affordable than renting an arena (especially in India) where the number of women wrestling viewers is very low. Whenever we organise outdoor matches, we always obtain the necessary permissions from local authorities well in advance. To date, we have never faced any resistance or objections, which reflects the growing acceptance and support for our sport.
Conclusion
Wrestling is one of the most intense and physically demanding sports. Let’s respect the athletes — both men and women — for their strength, competitiveness rather than judging them based on appearance or attire. Their focus is on performance, not perception
Reducing their efforts to surface-level assumptions undermines the spirit of sport and the progress made in gender equality in wrestling.