NEW DELHI: One can say this is a negative development that was just waiting to happen. The rapidly deteriorating relationship between the Wrestling Federation of India and ProSportify, WFI’s commercial partner for the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), has reached its natural denouement.
PWL will not be held this year, Tribune India reports.
WFI and ProSportify have been involved in a war of words ever since plans to hold the Zee Kushti Dangal were unveiled by WFI in September.
Originally planned to help states where wrestling has a minuscule presence, the launch of the new ‘league’ irked ProSportify, who took WFI to court for alleged breach of contract, the daily further reports.
In reply, WFI shot off a letter asking the league owners to announce their plans for Season 5, with the rider that the league would only be held by December as after that the wrestlers would be busy preparing for the Olympics qualifiers, which start in February.
Matters escalated when WFI sought details of the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) certificates for all concerned – including wrestlers, coaches and referees – after a majority of them complained that they had not been provided TDS details in the last four years.
ProSportify denied any wrongdoing on the TDS issue, and have said that they would not be able to hold PWL this year, Tribune India reports.
For the record, Sony Pictures Networks India has been the host broadcaster for the PWL ever since its inception.
