The Top Five Popular Kabaddi Tournaments In The World
In this article, we have mentioned information related to the top five popular Kabaddi tournaments in the world in detail.
Kabaddi is an energetic and old sport that started in South Asia. Two teams take turns sending a player called the “raider” to the other team’s side. The raider has to tag as many opponents as possible and get back to their side, all while saying “kabaddi.” The defending team tries to stop the raider. There are many leagues of Kabaddi like PKL, SKL, and more.
1. Pro Kabaddi League
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) was established in 2014 which is a professional Kabaddi competition in India designed to boost the popularity of the sport and provide a platform for professional players. It operates on a franchise-based model this league consists of 12 teams representing various Indian cities, each with 18-20 players which includes both domestic and international talents. The tournament follows a round-robin structure, where teams face each other twice. The top four teams progress to the playoffs, it features two semi-finals, a third-place playoff, and a final which determines the ultimate champion. Bengaluru Bulls lead with three PKL titles in seven seasons while Pardeep Narwal holds the record for the highest score in a single season with 24 points in Season 5. The 2022 PKL season comprises 12 teams and 137 matches, with Jaipur Pink and Puneri Paltan currently topping the standings. Overall, the Pro Kabaddi League stands as a success that elevates the status of Kabaddi both domestically and internationally.
2. Kabaddi Masters
Kabaddi, a contact sport deeply rooted in South Asian culture has transformed into a franchise model with a substantial fan base, particularly in Asia. The Kabaddi Masters stands out as a premier professional kabaddi competition organized by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) in collaboration with Star Sports. This tournament gathers elite national kabaddi teams from various countries which creates a platform for competition. The inaugural Kabaddi Masters took place in 2018 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, it features six teams: India, Pakistan, Kenya, Iran, South Korea, and Argentina. Employing a round-robin format, the top four teams advanced to the semifinals which culminated in India emerging victorious by defeating Iran in the final. The second edition was initially slated for 2020 but faced a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Kabaddi World Cup
The Kabaddi World Cup is a big tournament in the world especially in Asia. It started in 2004 and is all about national teams competing in standard-style kabaddi. India has been super good and won all three men’s World Cups (2004, 2007, 2016) and dominating the women’s tournament since it started in 2012. In the competition, 12 teams are split into two groups. They fight in rounds, then have semi-finals and a final match. While India is the champ other countries like Iran, Pakistan, and South Korea are making future games super intense. The 2024 World Cup is coming up, and in 2025, it will be held in England.
4. Super Kabaddi League
The Super Kabaddi League was started in 2018, and even though it was not as famous as big leagues like the NFL or Premier League. 10 teams from different parts of Pakistan which includes players from countries like Sri Lanka, Iran, and Bangladesh, and all competing. The first season of SKL became a blaster as the viewers personally liked this tournament. The Gujrat Warriors won the first championship. Even though it’s just one season old, this league is making Kabaddi popular again in Pakistan.
5. Kabaddi Circle Cup
The Kabaddi Circle Cup is also known as the Kabaddi World Cup for Circle Style. It is an important tournament in a version of Kabaddi. It started in 2010 in Punjab, India, because this style of Kabaddi is becoming popular. Every year (except 2015), teams from different countries come to compete for the trophy. At first, only men’s teams played and India kept winning until a thrilling match against Pakistan in 2020. In 2013, they added a women’s team which made it a global event. The games have a group stage, knockout rounds, and then the finals.
Conclusion
Kabaddi World Cup, local leagues like Pro Kabaddi, or new ones like Super Kabaddi League, events made kabaddi famous globally. Kabaddi is not just famous on big stages but it is also played in local as well.