Mumbai, Aug 1 (PTI) In a first for Indian wrestling, Tata Motors today announced an all-encompassing three-year strategic partnership with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) as "Principal Sponsor" to encourage and promote the sport.

The deal was announced at a media conference here today in the presence of Olympic medallists Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt and Sakshi Malik.

"This is one of the biggest non-cricket associations in the country," said Tata Motors' Commercial Vehicle Business Unit's President, Girish Wagh.

Welcoming the partnership, WFI president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh said that it was the first time that the ancient sport was being propped up in this manner.

"This the first time anyone is supporting wrestling as a body. Our relationship will last more than three years, I promise," he said.

Also present at the function were three other Asian Games-bound wrestlers, Bajrang Punia, Sandeeo Tomar and Pooja Dhanda, along with London Olympian Geeta Phogat and Satyawart Kadian.

As part of the partnership, Tata Motors will support top performing 50 men and women wrestlers across categories in both domestic and international circuit.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)