Pro Kabaddi League plans to launch women's version

The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India and the International Kabaddi Federation will work with the PKL organisers to establish the league, which is now in its tenth year (IKF). The Pro Kabaddi League's organisers are now looking at the idea of starting a professional franchise-based women's tournament in the nation, encouraged by the success of the men's competition. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India and the International Kabaddi Federation will work together to start the league, according to Mashal Sports, the league's organisers, who are now in their tenth season of the PKL (IKF). The success we have witnessed in the men's league and our dedication are the foundations for our ambitions for a professional women's kabaddi league to develop kabaddi as a contemporary, elite sport from India," stated Anupam Goswami, CEO of Mashal Sports and Commissioner of the PKL.To start the women's league, "we will engage with our different stakeholders, including the AKFI and the International Kabaddi Federation." Three teams, Firebirds, IceDivas, and StormQueens, participated in a test competition called Women's Kabaddi Challenge that was held in 2016. A major desire will be realised, according to former India captain V Tejeswini Bai, who led her nation to its last Asian Games gold medal in 2014 Incheon. Women's kabaddi players in India have desired their own professional league since since the Pro Kabaddi League's 2014 debut, according to Tejeswini, the StormQueens' captain.

The Arjuna Awardee continued, "A women's version of PKL would now be a tremendous dream come true for every woman kabaddi player in India and also for women kabaddi players from other nations. Leading male kabaddi players from India expressed a similar view. According to former India captain Ajay Thakur, professional kabaddi has changed the lives and reputations of male kabaddi players throughout India."I am certain that Mashal Sports will create a women's league for female kabaddi players."I am certain that Mashal Sports will create a women's league for female kabaddi players." Pardeep Narwal, the PKL raider with the most points scored, echoed Thakur's opinions. "We now have pride and respect as Kabaddi players thanks to the Pro Kabaddi League's calibre and popularity. I am confident that a women's PKL would ensure our female athletes receive the same attention and rewards." Kabaddi is a sport with a long history and heritage, although it just recently started to acquire popularity after the Pro Kabaddi League was established in 2014. The Pro Kabaddi League's ninth season received a total of 222 million viewers on Star Sports, the league's official broadcaster, and millions more people on Disney+ Hotstar.A total of 66 million people watched the Season 9 playoffs and championship, a 32% increase from the previous season.