The JSW Sports CEO, the frachise owner of the Bengaluru team of the Pro Wrestling League, Mustafa Ghouse today said he feels that the League will be one of the top commercially viable sport in the country in the years to come.
"I am very bullish about the PWL, and in a few years from now I will see it as one of the top sports in the country, even commercially. We all know, how hugely popular wrestling is in north India. It is a question how this sport extends to south in terms of popularity," he told reporters when asked on the time frame the franchise expects to break even in revenues.
Ghouse, along with his franchise players, was in the city for the unveiling of JSW-owned PWL team -- Bengaluru Yodhas.
He said the success of the league will depend on how the stakeholders play their parts in the first edition.
"The first year will give clear indication of how things will play out. So, it is very important for all stakeholders -- television, promoters, team owners and wrestling federation -- to give their 100 per cent in the first season," he said.
It may be difficult to build a fan base for Bengaluru franchise as cricket, football and hockey are already popular sports among city dwellers, but Ghouse said that JSW will popularise wrestling with the help of players-fans interactions.
"Definitely it (building a fan base for the franchise) is a big challenge in big cities where other international sports get attention from youngsters. We are going to utilise our time to popularise the sport with the help of players-fans interactions in next two weeks," he said.
Ghouse said that absence of Pakistani players will not affect the popularity and business of the league.
"Actually not (the absence of Pakistani players will not affect the sport's popularity and business prospects). There are world class players from other countries, and hence there will be intense competition amidst excitement," he said.
Almost all foreign players are expected to arrive in first week of December, except a few who are engaged in a various competitions across the globe.
"We are expecting almost all of them (foreign players) here by first week of December. A couple of them are participating in various tournaments world over. We are waiting for those events to get over," he said.
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The Bengaluru Yodhas' will open their campaign on December 12 against the Mumbai franchise in New Delhi.
The Yodhas' icon player, Narsingh Yadav said he was excited about representing Bengaluru at the PWL.
"I am extremely happy about wrestling for Bengaluru Yodhas. The JSW Group has been supporting me and their support has proved very beneficial. I am sure that Bengaluru Yodhas will profit from this association. I have seen the tremendous support that Bengaluru gives to its sports team and I am hopeful that it continues with the Yodhas, which will further motivate us to raise our game on the mat," said Narsingh.
Besides Narsingh, the Yodhas team comprises other top Indian wrestlers in Bajrang Punia, Sandeep Tomar, Lalita Sehrawat and Navjot Kaur. The foreign players include Ukraine's Pavlo Oliynik, Georgia's Davit Modzmanashvili, USA's Alyssa Lampe and Sweden's Johanna Mattsson.
Yodhas is being coached by Kuldeep Malik, national men's freestyle wrestling team coach.
