World Kabaddi League

Last updated
World Kabaddi League
Sport Kabaddi
Founded2014
First season2014
President Sukhbir Singh Badal
Commissioner Pargat Singh
No. of teams8
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
TV partner(s) Sony SIX (India) PTC Punjabi (International)
Sponsor(s) Li Ning (company)
Official website www.worldkabaddi.in

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

Contents

History

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. [1] 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. [1] After a reorganization, the league rebranded itself as the Global Kabaddi League and launched the new version in 2018. [1] [2] The only team to return for the third season was the California Eagles. [1] This version of the league lasted until the final match on November 3, 2018. [3]

Teams

Club NameCountryHost CityOwner
Khalsa WarriorsFlag of India.svg IndiaLondon Heathrow, England, United Kingdom Akshay Kumar [4]
Yo Yo TigersFlag of India.svg India Toronto, Canada Honey Singh [5]
Vancouver LionsFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Abbotsford, British Columbia, CanadaGurjit Singh Purewal
Punjab ThunderFlag of India.svg India Surrey, British Columbia, CanadaThind Properties and Rajat Bedi
Lahore LionsFlag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Government of Punjab, Pakistan
United SinghsFlag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Birmingham, England, United Kingdom Sonakshi Sinha [6]
California EaglesFlag of the United States.svg United States Stockton, California, United StatesTut Group
Royal KingsFlag of the United States.svg United States Sacramento, California, United StatesThiara Company

Schedule

WKL Kabaddi Matches [7] [8] Date 2014Vancouver Time(PST)Indian Standard Time (IST)
California Eagles Vs. Royal Kings USA & Khalsa Warrios Vs. Yo Yo TigersAugust 9, 20144:30 am5:00 pm
Vancouver Lions Vs. Lahore Lions & United Singhs Vs. Punjab ThunderAugust 10, 20144:30 am5:00 pm
Royal Kings USA Vs. Lahore Badshahs & Vancouver Lions Vs. Yo Yo TigersAugust 16, 20146:00 am6:30 pm
California Eagles Vs. Punjab Thunder & Khalsa Warrios Vs. United SinghAugust 17, 20146:00 am6:30 pm
California Eagles Vs. Punjab Thunder & Khalsa Warrios Vs. United SinghsAugust 23, 20146:30 am7:00 pm
California Eagles Vs. United Singhs & Lahore Badshahs Vs. Punjab ThunderAugust 24, 20146:30 am7:00 pm
Royal Kings USA Vs. Yo Yo Tigers & Khalsa Warrios Vs. Vancouver LionsAugust 30, 20146:30 am7:00 pm
Khalsa Warrios Vs. Lahore Badshahs & Punjab Thunder Vs. Royal Kings USAAugust 31, 20146:30 am7:00 pm

Playing technique

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

The venues of the World Kabaddi League spanned four countries. [9]

CityCountryVenueImage
Abbotsford Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Abbotsford Arena
Amritsar Flag of India.svg India GNDU Hockey Stadium
Birmingham Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom LG Arena
Bathinda Flag of India.svg IndiaBhatinda Hockey Stadium
Delhi Flag of India.svg India Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium
LondonFlag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom The O2 Arena [10]
Lahore Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Punjab Stadium
Jalandhar Flag of India.svg India Burlton Park Hockey Stadium
Ludhiana Flag of India.svg IndiaHockey Ground, Punjab Agricultural University
Mohali Flag of India.svg India International Hockey Stadium
New York CityFlag of the United States.svg United States Nassau Coliseum
Sacramento Flag of the United States.svg United States Sleep Train Arena
Stockton Flag of the United States.svg United States SMG Stockton Arena
Hamilton Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada FirstOntario Centre
Vancouver Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 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

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

Nation/TerritoryBroadcaster
Flag of India.svg India Sony SIX
Flag of the United States.svg United States of America PTC Punjabi
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom PTC Punjabi
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada PTC Punjabi
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia PTC Punjabi
Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan Geo Super

References

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