Wrestler Kavita Devi of Haryana is the first Indian woman to have been selected to compete in the Mae Young Classic in July this year, the first ever World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) tournament for women.

In April this year, talent scouts at the WWE Dubai tryouts spotted Kavita, who trained under former WWE champion The Great Khali`. The former competitive powerlifter, who won gold at the South Asian Games, is set to make history when she competes with 31 other female competitors at the single-elimination Mae Young Classic tournament in Orlanda, Florida.

Elated at this outcome, Kavita said she felt “honoured” and hoped she could “use this platform to inspire other Indian women” and also make her country proud. Heaping praise on the wrestler, Vice-President of WWE Talent Development, Canyon Ceman said that Kavita performed well at the Dubai tryout and demonstrated all the qualities required to excel et the upcoming tournament.