The World Kabaddi League (WKL) was a professional circle-style Kabaddi league in India, United States, Canada, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. It was the first worldwide circle style kabaddi league.

World Kabaddi League
SportKabaddi
Founded2014
First season2014
PresidentSukhbir Singh Badal
CommissionerPargat Singh
No. of teams8
Country India
 United States
 Canada
 United Kingdom
 Pakistan
TV partner(s)Sony SIX (India) PTC Punjabi (International)
Sponsor(s)Li Ning (company)
Official websitewww.worldkabaddi.in

History edit

The league's first season was in 2014; 8 international teams played in 14 cities in 4 different countries. Three of the teams had celebrity owners.[2] The regular season was four months long, and was followed by an elimination tournament that took place in Mohali, Punjab, India, in which the top four teams determined a champion.

The league attempted a comeback in 2016, but had numerous budgetary problems.[2] After a reorganization, the league rebranded itself as the Global Kabaddi League and launched the new version in 2018.[2][3] The only team to return for the third season was the California Eagles.[2] This version of the league lasted until the final match on November 3, 2018.[4]

Teams edit

Club Name Country Host City Owner
Khalsa Warriors   India London Heathrow, England, United Kingdom Akshay Kumar[5]
Yo Yo Tigers   India Toronto, Canada Honey Singh[6]
Vancouver Lions   Canada Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada Gurjit Singh Purewal
Punjab Thunder   India Surrey, British Columbia, Canada Thind Properties and Rajat Bedi
Lahore Lions   Pakistan Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Government of Punjab, Pakistan
United Singhs   United Kingdom Birmingham, England, United Kingdom Sonakshi Sinha[7]
California Eagles   United States Stockton, California, United States Tut Group
Royal Kings   United States Sacramento, California, United States Thiara Company

Schedule edit

WKL Kabaddi Matches[8][9] Date 2014 Vancouver Time(PST) Indian Standard Time (IST)
California Eagles Vs. Royal Kings USA & Khalsa Warrios Vs. Yo Yo Tigers August 9, 2014 4:30 am 5:00 pm
Vancouver Lions Vs. Lahore Lions & United Singhs Vs. Punjab Thunder August 10, 2014 4:30 am 5:00 pm
Royal Kings USA Vs. Lahore Badshahs & Vancouver Lions Vs. Yo Yo Tigers August 16, 2014 6:00 am 6:30 pm
California Eagles Vs. Punjab Thunder & Khalsa Warrios Vs. United Singh August 17, 2014 6:00 am 6:30 pm
California Eagles Vs. Punjab Thunder & Khalsa Warrios Vs. United Singhs August 23, 2014 6:30 am 7:00 pm
California Eagles Vs. United Singhs & Lahore Badshahs Vs. Punjab Thunder August 24, 2014 6:30 am 7:00 pm
Royal Kings USA Vs. Yo Yo Tigers & Khalsa Warrios Vs. Vancouver Lions August 30, 2014 6:30 am 7:00 pm
Khalsa Warrios Vs. Lahore Badshahs & Punjab Thunder Vs. Royal Kings USA August 31, 2014 6:30 am 7:00 pm

Playing technique edit

Two teams of seven players face each other in a circle and take turns sending a "raider" into the other team. To win a point, the raider must take a breath, run into the opposing half, tag one member of the opposite team, then return to his home. The raider will have only 30 seconds to touch the opponents and come back to his home. The game is played with 20-minute halves and a five-minute half-time break during which teams exchange sides.

Venues edit

The venues of the World Kabaddi League spanned four countries.[10]

City Country Venue Image
Abbotsford   Canada Abbotsford Arena
Amritsar   India GNDU Hockey Stadium
Birmingham   United Kingdom LG Arena
Bathinda   India Bhatinda Hockey Stadium
Delhi   India Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium
London   United Kingdom The O2 Arena[11]
Lahore   Pakistan Punjab Stadium
Jalandhar   India Burlton Park Hockey Stadium
Ludhiana   India Hockey Ground, Punjab Agricultural University
Mohali   India International Hockey Stadium
New York City   United States Nassau Coliseum
Sacramento   United States Sleep Train Arena
Stockton   United States SMG Stockton Arena
Hamilton   Canada FirstOntario Centre
Vancouver   Canada

WAVE Group Title Sponsor for World Kabaddi League 2014

Sonalika International Official Partner for World Kabaddi League 2014

Li Ning (company) signed on to be the Leagues clothing partner.

Television broadcasters edit

Sony SIX has signed on to broadcast the league in India. PTC Punjabi has signed on to broadcast the league around the world.

Nation/Territory Broadcaster
  India Sony SIX
  United States of America PTC Punjabi
  United Kingdom PTC Punjabi
  Canada PTC Punjabi
  Australia PTC Punjabi
  Pakistan Geo Super

References edit

  1. ^ "World Kabaddi league launched". Business Standard. Business Standard.
  2. ^ a b c d Sen, Debayan (14 October 2018). "What made the World Kabaddi League such a memorable affair?". ESPN.com. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  3. ^ Shafi, Faisal (19 October 2018). "Global Kabaddi League 2018 Launches in India". DESIblitz. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Global Kabaddi League: California Eagles will face Haryana Lions in the finals". 5 Dariya News. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Akshay Kumar lends glamour to kabaddi buys a team". India Today. Living Media.
  6. ^ "Rapper Honey Singh buys team in World Kabbadi League". The Times of India. The Times Group.
  7. ^ "Sonakshi Sinha co-owns team in World Kabaddi League". The Indian Express. Indian Express Limited.
  8. ^ "World Kabaddi League 2014 Dates Venue & Start Timings".
  9. ^ "World Kabaddi League 2014 Schedule".
  10. ^ VENUE LIST (World Kabaddi League)[usurped]
  11. ^ "Take A Deep Breath World Kabaddi League Comes To London". The Londonist.

External links edit

World Kabaddi League Launched