Pro Wrestling League grapple with payment issues

As per the players’ contract 40 percent of the total salary should have been paid to the wrestlers before start of the tournament. However, media reports indicate that some of the International wrestlers are yet to receive their advance payments. According to ToI, some Indian wrestlers have also confirmed that no payment have been made till date with the league almost completing a week.

"No, we have not received any money as of now. The contract says we would get 40 percent of the total money before we reached India. But no payment has been made so far. It's still in process," an international wrestler told ToI on condition of anonymity.

"It's not that the teams don't want to pay. There are some real issues with the payments - like taxes - to be made in cash abroad or deposited in foreign accounts. They are trying...," he added.

"In my case, I had given them my parents' bank details but the contract is in my name and they cannot transfer to an account that is not in my name. We are in the process of rectifying it," another European grappler said, ToI reported.

However, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh denied any crisis in the payment of salaries.

"As to my knowledge, the advance of 40 percent has been paid as per the contract. There is no financial crunch and the transactions are in procedure. Some teams have made the payments while others are in the process. In some cases, there were issues in transferring money to foreign athletes' accounts," Brij Bhushan told ToI.

Pro Sportify, the promoters of PWL denied the non-payment of salaries and claimed that all dues have been cleared.

Yes, definitely. All payments have been made. Players' interests have been protected and their well-being is our priority. Wrestling has been given such a platform for the first time and we are committed to taking PWL to different level. I can assure you that all promises have been and will be met," Pro Sportify director Vishal Gurnani told ToI.

The co-owner of Haryana Hammers, Bhupinder Singh also denied the non-payment of salaries.

"What you have heard is wrong. We paid the 40 percent advance to all our players. They will be getting another 40 percent within the next two days," he told ToI.