The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) kicked off its 11th season with a groundbreaking fan engagement campaign that “sets a new benchmark in how a league champions a fan-first approach”.
The ‘Define Your Team’s Superpower’ initiative, spearheaded by Mashal Sports, marked a groundbreaking moment as fans, for the first time, were invited to vote, share their opinions, and views to define the PKL Season 11 Campaign. Fans voted for their team’s superpower to win in the Battle of Breath, generating an overwhelming response that shaped the season’s promotional campaign across television and digital platforms.
Fan engagement reaches new heights
The campaign’s success is evident in the staggering numbers. With over 500k total votes and more than 700k total interactions, the impact was substantial. The campaign’s reach was particularly impressive, with the PKL handle alone achieving a remarkable 9M+ total organic reach. These figures underscore the campaign’s effectiveness in engaging and mobilizing a vast audience & setting the stage for what promises to be another exciting PKL season.
Teams embrace their superpowers
Each PKL team now has a defined superpower that would help them win in the “Battle of Breath”, voted by the fans themselves:
Bengal Warriors: Unity
Bengaluru Bulls: Strength
Dabang Delhi KC: Boldness
Gujarat Giants: Courage
Haryana Steelers: Determination
Jaipur Pink Panthers: Relentless
Patna Pirates: Invincible
Puneri Paltan: Surprise
Tamil Thalaivas: Fearlessness
Telugu Titans: Resilience
U Mumba: Stealth
UP Yoddhas: Endurance
These “superpowers” reflect the unique playing styles and fan perceptions of each team, giving fans unprecedented influence over the action.
Ritesh Deshmukh leads promotional campaign
Star Sports, the official broadcaster of PKL, has unveiled its first campaign film for PKL Season 11, featuring actor Riteish Deshmukh. The campaign kicked off on Friday, October 18, to coincide with the PKL 11 season opener between Telugu Titans and the Bengaluru Bulls at the GMCB Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad.
After Pawan and Pardeep take to the mat on Friday, the second match of the night sees U Mumba’s Sunil Kumar – the most expensive Indian defender in PKL history after being bought for INR 1.015 Crores – take on the attacking prowess of Naveen Kumar, star raider for Dabang Delhi K.C.
The tournament’s promotional film, crafted in a jungle setting, has been released in multiple languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil.
In this promo, Riteish embodies a lone warrior, exemplifying the superpowers voted for by fans in the recent contest. He showcases the stealth of U Mumba and the element of surprise characteristic of Puneri Paltan as he navigates through dangerous predators. This portrayal serves as a powerful metaphor for the sharp instincts, speed, and mental toughness that define kabaddi champions.
The film captures the essence of kabaddi, “immersing viewers in a world where each move is a battle, and every decision could mark the difference between triumph and defeat”.
Commenting on his involvement, Riteish said, “Kabaddi is a sport that is woven into the fabric of our culture, and being a part of this campaign is an absolute honour. The intensity and pride we captured in the film reflect the warrior spirit of kabaddi players – fierce, fearless, and ready to face any challenge. PKL has become a national sensation, and I’m sure this season will take that excitement to another level.”
Watch the video here…
https://youtu.be/viQzHuE2gSY
