The next generation of women wrestlers

下一代的女子摔跤手

The Conversation

2025-05-19

26 分钟
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单集简介 ...

Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to professional wrestlers Xia Zhao from China and Divya Aale from India about their passion for the sport and what it’s like to be a woman in this industry. Xia Zhao from China started martial arts at eight years old and later became a professional athlete in Chinese martial arts, known as wushu, including kung fu and kick-boxing. In 2016, she attended wrestling try-outs in Shanghai, which led her to move to the US and become the first Chinese woman to compete in a WWE ring. Her stage name today is Lei Ying Lee, and she was formerly known as Xia Li. Divya Aale from India has been captivated by American wrestling since she was four years old. In her early twenties, she trained at the Continental Wrestling Entertainment academy in India, founded by former WWE star Dalip Singh Rana - better known as The Great Khali. She was the only woman living at the academy alongside 200 male wrestlers. Today Divya teaches women's wrestling in Singapore. Produced by Elena Angelides (Image: (L) Divya Aale credit Anjwan Noor. (R) Lei Ying Lee credit Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.)
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单集文稿 ...

  • Hello and welcome to The Conversation from the BBC World Service,

  • the show that amplifies women's voices,

  • which is really just a fancy way of saying that we bring two fascinating women together who share an expertise and see what happens.

  • I'm Ella Alshamahi.

  • Today we're talking to two female professional wrestlers.

  • In equal parts,

  • a sport with trained athletes and an entertainment experience with carefully crafted characters,

  • storylines and the blurring of reality.

  • We're asking, what is it really like to be a woman in this industry?

  • Xia Zhao was a martial arts athlete in China when a chance moment led her to become the first Chinese woman to compete in a world wrestling entertainment,

  • that's WWE, ring.

  • Divya Ali was a professional dancer.

  • but could no longer ignore her passion for wrestling.

  • She trained at the Continental Wrestling Entertainment, CWE Wrestling Academy in India.

  • Welcome to you both.

  • Hello everyone, this is Zaya Zhao.

  • Hello everyone, namaste.

  • This is Divya from India.

  • So Zaya, let's start with you.

  • You went to a martial arts boarding school in China with 50,000 students.