NEW DELHI: Close on the heels of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) auctions, comes the announcement that another kabaddi league is on the horizon. Titled the Indo International Premier Kabaddi League (IPKL), it was launched by the New Kabaddi Federation of India (NKFI) here on Wednesday in partnership with Lex Sportel.
As is already well documented, PKL is owned by Mashal Sports Pvt Ltd under the aegis of AKFI. Mashal in turn has Star India as its controlling 74% stakeholder.
Pretty much on similar lines, Lex Sportel, which operates the Discovery Communications branded sports channel DSport, will both be organising, as well as broadcasting IPKL.
As for NKFI, it is worth noting that the body was formed as recently as 2017 and has secured recognition from the World Kabaddi Federation (WKF). It should come as no surprise that both the NKFI and the WKF have been set up in India as rival bodies to the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) and International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) respectively.
That all four federations have Indian connections by virtue of kabaddi having both its origins and financial impetus coming from here is again no surprise. That NKFI is not recognised by the Indian Olympic Association / Sports Ministry and the WKF is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee is again no surprise.
So clearly, what the IPKL will NOT have from the get go, is a pathway for players participating in the upcoming league to compete in the PKL. And seeing the monopolistic way sports bodies are managed in India, it is safe to assume that these players will not be considered for selection to represent the country. Except via court intervention.
On the plus side, the most striking aspect about the new league is their decision to give a 20% share of revenue generated to all players besides assured salaries and prize money, a concept the organisers feel can change the way sports is run in the country.
The IPKL will run from May 13 to June 4 across three venues – Pune, Mysore and Bengaluru. There will be a total of 44 matches in season one, which will feature eight teams and a total of 160 players, including 16 foreign signings. According to the organisers, all players were selected after trials conducted across the country, which were open to all (emphasis ours).
The league will be broadcast on DSport (English), MTV & MTV HD+ (Hindi), DD Sport (Hindi), as well as several regional networks.
Also present on the occasion was Ravi Kiran, director, IPKL, who said: “This is an effort towards creating a robust and transparent system for growing the sport of Kabaddi, which we all love so much around the country. This league is a revolutionary step towards increasing and strengthening the reach of this sport. For the first time ever players have been made stakeholders in the game through our revenue sharing formula. This ensures the primacy of player’s interests.”
RC Venkateish, MD & CEO, Lex Sportel, also shared his thoughts saying: “This is a truly momentous occasion for us in our endeavor towards bringing the best of live sporting action to audiences and fans. What really stands out with IPKL is NKF’s vision of giving the two most important stakeholders of a sport, the fan and the player, the importance they deserve. We strongly believe that IPKL will be a catalyst to unearth the best of Kabaddi talent in the country restoring its pride of place in this centuries old sport with homegrown origins.”
The opening phase of the IPKL will feature 20 matches and will be played at Pune’s Balewadi stadium between May 13 and 21, while 17 games of the second phase will take place in Mysore’s Chamundai Vihar stadium from May 24 to May 29.
The final phase in Bengaluru beginning June 1 will have 7 games, with the grand finale scheduled at the Kanteerava stadium on June 4.
Each team will comprise of marquee players and will include five raiders, seven defenders and three all-rounders besides two foreign signings. One coach and physio will also be assigned to the teams.
IPKL
Dates: May 13-June 4
Total of eight teams: Bangalore Rhinos, Chennai Challengers, Diler Delhi, Telegu Bulls, Pune Pride, Haryana Heroes, Mumbai Che Raje, Rajasthan Rajputs.
Three venues: Pune, Mysuru and Bengaluru.
