A TOTAL OF 575 players will represent 12 teams in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) Season 2, which is set to begin on December 25 at the Noida Stadium. The league’s second season marks a major expansion from its inaugural edition, highlighting the growing popularity and talent pool of kabaddi in the state, a media release said.
“We are all set to begin the second edition of UPKL on December 25, building on the tremendous success of our inaugural season. This year, a strong contingent of 575 players from twelve competitive teams will showcase their talent in Season 2,” said Sambhav Jain, Founder of UPKL.
The twelve teams that will compete for the UPKL Season 2 championship are Lucknow Lions, Yamuna Yoddha, Noida Ninjas, Gazab Ghaziabad, Kashi Kings, Awadh Ramdoot, Brij Stars, Sangam Challengers, Ganga Kings (Mirzapur), Aligarh Tigers, Kanpur Warriors, and Purvanchal Panthers, the release said.
UPKL is a professional kabaddi league in Uttar Pradesh focused on promoting the sport and nurturing homegrown talent. The inaugural season featured eight teams.
The squad formations were finalised after a transparent and competitive player auction, where Bhaghpat’s Vinay Tewatia emerged as the most expensive player, being acquired by Aligarh Tigers for ₹5.90 lakh.
The auction witnessed enthusiastic participation from all 12 franchise owners. Other significant buys included Nitin Panwal, who joined Ganga Kings (Mirzapur) for Rs 4.45 lakh, Ashu Singh, who was picked up by Noida Ninjas for Rs 4.35 lakh, and Shubham Kumar, who was acquired by Kanpur Warriors for Rs 3.20 lakh.
Jain added, “The auction this season was intensely competitive, with franchisees strategically investing in players based on their potential and strengths. This promises to make UPKL Season 2 an even more thrilling experience for kabaddi enthusiasts.”
The auction was conducted with full transparency, with players systematically grouped into four categories according to their experience and past performances, ensuring a fair and balanced selection process.
The auction event saw attendance from several key figures, including Rahul Chaudhary, Brand Ambassador of UPKL; Awadh Ojha, Franchise Owner of Awadh Ramdoot; Rajesh Singh, Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi Association; Vinay Kumar Singh from the UP-Kabaddi Federation; Tej Narayan, Technical Director; along with Kunal Sharma and Rahul Sharma, the release added.
