Kids in the rural areas can possibly use kabaddi as their reasoning for all the injuries, tackles, scars and fights if they touched the line or not.
But as years have progressed, kabaddi as a sport faded away over the years. It is still played, but predominantly in rural areas. In urban India, it lost out to other sports like cricket and football which enjoy better television. But the veteran sport has breathed a new life through Pro Kabaddi league.
After two incredibly high voltage seasons, PBl is back in spotlight, starting today with defending champions U Mumba taking on Telugu Titans.
The first season saw a record viewership of 435 million and the people behind the scenes are eager to take the number to another level.
The third season features 26 international players from 11 countries, who, excluding the Asian sub-continent; hail from countries like Japan, Oman, Thailand, Indonesia as well as Kenya and Poland.
The league also goes bi-annual this time, and the excitement level will surely reach a new level.
Captain of Jaipur Pink Panthers, Navneet Gautam stayed positive about the sport’s prospects. “The mindset has changed after the inaugural season. Now, I see youngsters playing kabaddi seriously and enjoying it like never before. I am overwhelmed with the response I am getting,” he said.
One interesting point in the new edition is addition of Navjot Singh in the Delhi team, who is the first Sikh player to feature in the PKl.
Navjot is a regular Kabaddi player but what makes his different among all players is, Singh used to play Kabaddi in ‘Circle format’.
The opening day will also witness actor Aamir Khan lend a gloriously sombre touch to the celebration through a patriotic rendition of the Indian National Anthem.