Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh, who pocketed another bronze medal at the just concluded world championships, is the latest sportsman to be bitten by the reality bug. The Indian pugilist is all set to host a boxing reality show titled The Contendor which is an adaption of the international show bearing the same name. Singh had signed a multi million dollar with image talent company Percept Sports Management Company.
The Indian version is co-produced by Bulldog Entertainment and Percept Picture Company (PPC). It’s still not known which channel will the show air.
A spokesperson from PPC says, “Vijender Singh is hosting The Contendor. We’re in talks with various channels but we still haven’t fixed on a broadcaster.”
The Contender is a reality television series that follows a group of boxers as they compete with one another in an elimination-style competition, while their lives and relationships with each other and their families are depicted. The format has been conceptualized by noted British TV producer Mark Burnett, who also has popular shows like Are you smarter than a fifth grader?, Survivor, Martha Stewart to his credit.
Ever since his rise as a boxer, Vijender Singh has been a popular face on Indian television having made special appearances on shows like Nach Baliye 4 and Tere mere beech mein.