Pro Kabaddi League 101: A Great Initiative of PKL:
As our Techno Era is growing, we are moving ahead and expanding our Knowledge, Technology, Finance and every field, that is need of a human. Here the field of Sports turns out in very different way where it is the best things to grows and improve Humans by physically and mentally and makes them stronger and more stable.
There are numerous sports following countries or regional traditions, customs, ethics. Moreover, some becomes National, and some becomes International.
If we go microly in that, as we talk about India there’s a huge craze and audience base of Cricket sport game, but recently there’s being increase in “Kabaddi Game” Where India secures its origin game lately it started its game craze among Indian Audience.
History of KABADDI:
Kabaddi is an Indian Origin game, It was an very popular game in villages were wrestlers use to play it mostly. People in Tamil Nadu started it 4000 years ago. Past fans include the Buddha, and the princes who played to display their strength and win their brides.
Some of the nicknames of kabaddi are as follows:
- Chedugudu
- Sadugudu
- Kaudi
- Pakaada
- Ha-du-du
- Bhavatik
- Saadukuda
- Hu-Tu-Tu
- Himoshika
It’s a mixed – sex game, competitions are separate for male and female. 7 members in each team plays this game in group, in Kabaddi Court without any need of equipment’s.
This game came up to National and International level by Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) it’s a ground-breaking initiative by Mashal Sports Pvt. Ltd and Disney Star started from 2014. That is taking this sports game to an International level giving an opportunity kabaddi players to reach out Globally.
Pro Kabaddi League (PKL):
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has revolutionised the sport of kabaddi with stunning innovative new things, by making it an aspirational sport for both players and fans. Fedrations Backed by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), & supported by participating members of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) and the Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF)
By all these revolutionary things the league saw a tremendous drastic growth in Kabaddi.
Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is an Indian men’s professional Kabaddi league. It was launched in 2014 and is broadcast on Star Sports. It is the most popular kabaddi league in the world. It is also the second most watched sports league in India after the Indian Premier League (IPL) in India.
PKL Sponsership:
In every season Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) hosts the event, and VIVO Sponsors it.
The Pro Kabaddi League works by using a franchise-based model and its 1st season was held in 2014 with eight teams each of which has paid fees of up to US$250,000 to join.
With a great response rate Pro Kabaddi Leage (PKL) has successfully completed 9 seasons of it! After Every season, Pro Kabaddi Leage (PKL) announces 3 top players of each season such as a Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season, a top Raider of the season and a Top Defender of a season.
Format of game:
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) follows the same regulations as the indoor team version of Kabaddi, plus a few more to promote higher scoring. Two teams of seven players each compete in the contact team sport known as kabaddi.
The goal of the game is for one offensive player, known as a “raider,” to sprint into the other team’s half of the court, touch out as many of their defensemen as they can, and then sprint back to their own half of the court—all while avoiding defenders’ tackles and doing it in one breath. The opposing team gains a point for halting the raider, and points are awarded for each player the raider tags, if a player is removed from the game.
All Teams of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL):
There are in total 12 best teams that are part of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)
1.Patna Pirates:
Owned by KVS Energy and Sports Limited, Patna Pirates is the Patna city franchise. According to Patna Pirates, the spirit of the pirate is to never give up, to take advantage of the surroundings, and to strike when the enemy is least expecting it. Its name derives from the Greek word “peirin,” which meaning “to attack,” rather than the word’s illicit connotation. Ram Mehar Singh is the team’s coach, and Pardeep Narwal serves as team leader. Rajesh V. Shah is the team’s owner, and Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna serves as their home field. With a record three titles, all of which they have won in consecutive seasons, the Pirates are the most successful team in PKL history. The Pirates defeated to claim their first championship.
2. Puneri Paltan:
The Mumbai-based company Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd. owns Puneri Paltan, a Kabaddi squad that plays in the Pro Kabaddi League on behalf of the city of Pune, Maharashtra. Pune’s Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex is home to the team. After placing at the bottom of the Pro Kabaddi League’s inaugural two seasons in 2014 and 2015, Puneri Paltan is one of the league’s original members with a comparatively poor success percentage. The Paltan learned from their failures and qualified for the playoffs for the first time ever in the 2016 (January) season, ultimately placing third. Despite having a lot of ups and downs as a team, they just missed the playoffs in June of 2016 but were awarded a slot in the following season, 2017.
3.U Mumba
U Mumba, a Kabaddi team hailing from Mumbai, Maharashtra, competes in the Pro Kabaddi League. In the sixth season, the team, captained by Fazel Atrachali and coached by Gholamreza Mazandarai, showcased strong performances. Owned by Unilazer Ventures Pvt. Ltd, led by Ronnie Screwvala, the team plays home matches at Mumbai’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium. Despite being a dominant force in the inaugural PKL season, U Mumba finished as runners-up to the Jaipur Pink Panthers. They redeemed themselves in 2015, clinching the title by defeating Bengaluru Bulls in the final. In the following season (2016), U Mumba reached their third consecutive final but narrowly lost to the Patna Pirates. For the seventh PKL season in 2019, they retained players like Fazel Atrachhalli, Rajguru Subramanian, and Arjun Deshwal.
4. Tamil Thalaivas
Tamil Thalaivas, a Kabaddi team based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is co-owned by industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad and actors Allu Arjun, Ram Charan, and film producer Allu Aravind. Actor Vijay Sethupathi serves as the team’s brand ambassador, and they play their home matches at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. The team made its Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) debut in season 5, finishing last in Zone B and not qualifying for the playoffs. Ajay Thakur was their priority pick and team captain, proving his worth by becoming the 3rd best raider in PKL 5. In the following seasons, the Thalaivas faced challenges with an inexperienced lineup, resulting in losses in crucial moments. For PKL season 7, starting from July 19, 2019, the team retained captain Ajay Thakur and Manjeet Chillar.
5. UP Yoddha
UP Yoddha, a Pro Kabaddi franchise from Noida owned by the GMR Group, debuted in 2017 and quickly made it to the playoffs in their first season. The team, embodying the warrior spirit of Uttar Pradesh, is known for its fearless approach, courage, passion, and pride. The players, called Yoddhas, give their all in the battlefield, using strength, courage, and intelligence to overcome challenges. Jasveer Singh joined the coaching staff in season 6. The team’s home matches take place at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex. Retaining players Sachin Kumar and Amit, UP Yoddha, under the leadership of head coach J Udaya Kumar, emphasizes determination and a never-surrender attitude.
6. Haryana Steelers
Haryana Steelers, backed by JSW Sports, emerged in the 2017 VIVO Pro Kabaddi League with a focus on contributing to the league and society. Rooted in Haryana, they symbolize resilience and strength. Despite setbacks, such as leader Surender Nada’s injury in season 6, they aim to enrich the league and their fans. Retaining players Vikas Khandola and Kuldeep Singh, the team, led by coach Rambir Singh Khokhar, plays at Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Sonepat. Their debut in 2017 saw playoff success, but challenges in season 6 led to a bottom-place finish. Notably, in PKL 6, they acquired Monu Goyat, the most expensive player at the auction.
7. Dabang Delhi KC
Dabang Delhi KC, known as ‘The Eagles,’ is a Pro Kabaddi League team with a logo symbolizing strength and ambition. Owned by Ms. Radha Kapoor, the team represents North India and holds exclusive rights to Delhi/NCR. Their home arena, Thyagraj Stadium, is eco-friendly with a seating capacity of 5,000. Founded in 2014, Dabang Delhi KC promotes women entrepreneurship and sports. Key players like Meraj Sheykh and Joginder Narwal are retained for Season 7, starting on July 19, with Dr. Ramesh Bhendigiri as the head coach.
8. Jaipur Pink Panthers
Jaipur Pink Panthers, owned by Abhishek Bachchan, participate in the Pro Kabaddi League, playing home matches at Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium. They gained fame by winning the inaugural season in 2014 but faced performance challenges in seasons 3 and 4. Managed by GS Entertainment Worldwide, the team’s official theme is ‘Roar for Panthers,’ and colors are pink and blue. The head coach is Srinivas Reddy. The team, inspired by the Pink Panther cartoon character, retained players Deepak Niwas Hooda and Sandeep Dhull for Pro Kabaddi Season 7 starting on July 19, 2019.
9. Bengal Warriors
Bengal Warriors, a Kolkata-based franchise in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), is owned by Future Group and promoted by Kishore Biyani. They have participated in all six seasons of PKL, reaching playoffs in seasons 3, 5, and 6 but falling short in the others. Surjeet Singh led the team in seasons 5 and 6, with notable players like Lee Jang-kun and Maninder Singh. For PKL 7, they retained Maninder Singh and Baldev Singh and appointed BC Ramesh as the coach. Originally owned by Fortune Group, Bengal Warriors later brought in Bollywood star Akshay Kumar as a co-owner before the 5th season. The team is gearing up for the upcoming season, which starts on July 19.
10. Telugu Titans
Telugu Titans, a Pro Kabaddi franchise based in Hyderabad, was founded in 2014 and is owned by Veera Sports. The team, led by head coach Jagdish Kumble, plays its home matches at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Vizag. Notably, in the second season (2015), they reached the playoffs and secured the second position in the league table. Despite consistently making it to the top 5 in subsequent seasons, the team has yet to win the championship. Greenko became their primary sponsor in 2015, marking the beginning of a long partnership with player Rahul Chaudhari. For Pro Kabaddi Season 7 in 2019, the Titans retained key players.
11. Bengaluru Bulls
The Bengaluru Bulls, a Pro Kabaddi League team owned by Kosmik Global Media, have been consistently participating since the league’s inception. Led by Rohit Kumar and coached by Randhir Singh, they achieved success by winning the championship in the 2018-19 season. Despite facing challenges, including a playoff appearance in the initial seasons, the team has retained key players and remains a significant contender. CEO Uday Sinh Wala, previously associated with NIMBUS Sports, actively contributes to the team and the sport.
12. Gujarat Fortune Giants
Adani Wilmar Ltd., through its Fortune brand, established the Gujarat Fortune Giants in 2017 to promote sports culture, specifically Kabaddi, in Gujarat. Despite initial low interest, the team gained popularity with its powerful performances and unique spirit. The mascot reflects the rooted and energetic essence of the people. Notably, the team reached the finals in its first two seasons, becoming the youngest and most successful in the Pro Kabaddi League. Gujarat Fortune Giants focus on creating heroes from every player, led by Sunil Kumar Malik and coached by Manpreet Singh. Home matches are held at The Arena by TransStadia, and key players like Sachin and Sunil were retained for Pro Kabaddi Season 7 in 2019.
This topic is very important for us in sports field and to make readers more convenient we are making an extension that is second part of it in another blog/article.
In that we will cover all the Ten Seasons of Pro Kabaddi League, their Highlights and Seasons summaries.
So, Stay Tuned!
Happy Reading!