Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s efforts to take the game of Kabaddi to the international level made another successful bid with the launch of World Kabaddi league on Tuesday.
Aimed at raising the profile of the sport, the league was launched in the presence of Sukhbir, league’s president, and former India hockey captain Pargat Singh, league’s commissioner. The league is all set for inauguration in mid-June at Thyagaraj Sports Complex and will be played across four continents starting from August to December.
Giving his insights about the league, Sukhbir said: “In the northern region of the Indian sub-continent, Kabaddi is an extremely popular sport and the last four Kabaddi World Cups held in India bear testimony to the same. I am extremely proud to let the world know of India's sporting prowess in the field of Kabaddi through World Kabaddi league.”
Pargat Singh said: “After successfully executing four editions of Kabaddi World Cup, we realised the need for a professional Kabaddi league which connects South Asians across the world. By adding more action-oriented elements to this original Indian contact team sport, we are making it viewer-friendly”, he said. The league will travel to 14 cities around the world, and each city will host at least one weekend.