Kabaddi gets a shot in the arm with launch of professional kabaddi league

The launch of Pro Kabaddi

The first professional league of kabaddi in India was launched on Friday amid much fanfare at the NSCI Sardar Vallabhai Patel Stadium in Worli, Mumbai.

Pro Kabaddi, the name of the league, is a joint initiative of sports commentator Charu Sharma and industrialist Anand Mahindra, whose co-promoted firm called Mashal Sports will manage the event. Pro Kabaddi is set to feature franchises from eight cities, with the games to be played both home and away.

The tournament will be held in the months of July and August and Star Sports will be broadcasting the tournament live. The International Kabaddi Federation, Asian Kabaddi Federation and Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, all back the league.

The Singapore-based marketing company World Sports Group has been signed by the promoters to market the event.

Entrepreneurs like Ronnie Screwala, Rajesh Shah (Mukund Group) and Kishore Biyani have all pledged their support to the league as team owners, it has been announced via a media release.

Rajesh Shah has bought the Kolkata franchise, while Kishore Biyani is yet to decide between Patna and Delhi. GMR Group and Murugappa Group are the other industries who are looking to invest in Pro Kabaddi.

“Advanced discussions are on with other corporate giants such as GMR Group and Murugappa Group. With the world of sport inextricably linked with entertainment, there is also interest from major film personalities,” the release added.

A players’ auction will be held ahead of the commencement of the league, which is set to feature 72 Indian and 28 overseas players (including Pakistanis), to help the franchises add to their ranks.

Foreign players from countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Canada, England, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkmenistan will be up for sale at the auction.

All the matches of the tournament will be played on specially developed mats inside stadiums across eight cities, which will have state-of-the-art facilities.

Managing Director of Pro Kabaddi’s organising group Mashal Sports, Charu Sharma said: “Americans take pride in American football, their own creation. Australians thrive on Footie (Australian Rules Football) even though no other country plays it. They both respect their traditional sport and celebrate it. Why shouldn’t we?”

The Mumbai franchise has been purchased by founder and former CEO of UTV Group Ronnie Screwvala. “Next to where I grew up at Grant Road was a small ground. Nobody played cricket or football there. It was all kabaddi. And everyone enjoyed it,” Ronnie said.

Anand Mahindra adds: “The sport needed a revival. As a principle of the brand that I have represented for all these years, we look to support the underdog and bring forth a rise.”

The players themselves seem excited about the project. Well-known international kabaddi player Navneet Gautam said: “This will help the game grow to a new audience which will enjoy fast-paced action and in turn players will benefit.”

To make the product more appealing for high-quality television broadcast, the Pro League will be played on red or pink mats. “The sport has always attracted massive crowds even in cities, like at Shivaji Park in Mumbai and all across Punjab and Haryana and south in TN. This sport has the potential to surprise India,” said a franchise official.