World Kabaddi League

[Azaad]

Chandigarh, October 27

Designed on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a world kabaddi league, featuring teams from North America, Europe and Asia, with the winner getting a cash prize of Rs 1 crore is in the offing.

The modalities, including the worldwide coverage of all matches, are in the final stages of approval, says SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. He revealed that he himself would be the franchisee of one of the teams from India.

The decision to start the World Premier League (WPL) in kabaddi has been taken in view of the worldwide popularity of the Punjabi sport. It will be Punjab- style kabaddi that will be played in all five continents.

Like each IPL T20 team, each participating club or team will be free to sign, engage or employ any kabaddi player from any part of the world subject to approval by the management committee of the proposed league. Each club will have its own trainers, including coaches, physical conditioners, psychologists and managers, besides an event manager to look after training, management and organisational aspects of the league.

“When I take a team, I would like to concentrate on its training and management so as to turn it into the number one team. I am sure others would like to do the same. If WWF can do well and similar experiments in cricket, hockey, football , ice hockey, baseball and basketball have been successful in North America, we are confident that our league will be a roaring success as many TV channels have evinced interest in buying live coverage rights on a country and continental basis,” added Badal.

The headquarters of the WPL would be in India with offices in Canada, the US, the UK and Germany. Suggestions for including one or two teams from Pakistan were also under active consideration of the ad hoc committee that had representatives from all participating countries. The WPL might subsequently consider teams from Australasia (Australia-New Zealand-Fiji-Malaysia) and Africa for inclusion. “We already have held three meetings,” said Sukhbir, maintaining that the response, including that of the sponsors, had been overwhelming.

“While the preliminary league matches will be played in the qualifying zones, located in each of the three participating continents, the final will be played in Punjab during the winter when a large number of NRIs visit India. Depending upon the organisers, the matches could be played even under floodlights. Each participating team will have its own emblem, flag, uniform and mascot. The managing committee of the WPL will decide how many players a team can hire, engage or employ. We hope to finalise all the details in the next few meetings,” he said.

Pak team arrives for kabaddi meet

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 27

A 24-member Kabaddi team from Pakistan arrived here today to participate in the sports competition being organized by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) at Hazur Sahib.

Addressing media persons Dalmegh Singh, secretary SGPC said besides Pakistan two other nations were likely to participate in the competition. He said the teams from other states including Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states would also participate in the competition and the winner of the competition would be given Rs 3 lakh as prize while the runner up would receive Rs 2 lakh.

[sikh in melbourne]

wow thats gr8 ....is there any place for sabat surat kabbadi players..??

[dasmesh_regiment]

quality idea to promote it

[spamindersingh]

How Kabaddi in the UK has declined. About 10 years ago there was some good UK talent coming through and they were very skillfull players. Now all the teams in the UK are comprised of fauji from India who are pathetic players. The stoppers are poor but it says it all when the raiders are getting caught constantly. Its not even worth attending a UK Kabaddi tournament these days as every tom, d-ick and hardeep is playing for the teams.