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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 18
Two press statements, purportedly from Mumbai Maharathi, in a space of few hours have once again showed the Pro-Wrestling League in a bad light.
In the early hours of Thursday, Maharathi said they felt cheated by Pro-Sportify, the PWL organisers, and its CEO Sunil Yash Kalra and “have decided to withdraw from the third edition of the PWL with immediate effect”.
Then another release, this time on the Concede Trading India Pvt Ltd’s letterhead, owner of the Mumbai team, categorically denied that they have withdrawn from the league.
“We were shocked and distressed to see a story circulating in the media that we as a team have withdrawn from the third Pro Wrestling League,” co-owner Pradeep Sehrawat said.
“We would like to reiterate that we have complete faith in PWL organisers and that they have been conducting this world-class league in a fair and equitable manner. We would also like to apologise to Sunil Kalra, the CEO of the league, against whom fallacious and damaging charges have been made in the name of our team,” the release read.
Sehrawat went on to blame Birbal Sports and Entertainment, who they had hired to handle operations, as the source behind the story. “…we have terminated all our relationships with them with immediate effect and relieved them of their duties. Any information circulated by them on our behalf henceforth will have no legal sanction and can be actionable in the Indian courts,” he wrote.
More dirt to come out?
Stung by the open criticism, Birbal Sports are looking to explore all actions. It is understood that before seeking any further action, including legal recourse, they want to meet the owners. A source close to them has revealed that the first release regarding the withdrawal of the team was sent after the consent of the owners. “Only after they gave a go- ahead, the controversial statement was released to the media,” he said.
The owners were miffed after the league organisers stopped them from blocking Parveen Rana from fighting in the 74kg weight category. Rana went on to beat Parveen Dahiya and register a 4-3 maiden win for Veer Marathas.
“While the team management has taken several instances of mismanagement and operational glitches by the league organisers in its stride, they reacted strongly to the incident that occurred at the toss between Mumbai Maharathi and their opponents,” the first release said.
“According to the rules, one weight category cannot be blocked for consecutive matches and for a total of two out of the five league matches. Mumbai Maharathi had blocked the 74kg category in their first encounter and now sought to do so in their third encounter, adhering to the rules, but the league organisers stepped in to twist the rules and thwart Mumbai Maharathi,” it read further.
PWL: Punjab thrash Delhi
New Delhi: Punjab Royals’ icon player Geno Petriashvili pulled off a dominating win to guide his side to an easy 6-1 victory over Delhi Sultans in a Pro Wrestling League contest here today. Geno, who came into the tie with an unbeaten record this season, maintained his glorious run and thrashed India's Hitender Beniwal 10-0 in the men's 125kg category by pinning him on the mat. Before that, World Championship bronze medallist Anastasija Grigorjeva of Latvia beat India's Monia Dhanoi in the women's 62kg category to put the Royals in the driver’s seat.
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