In another welcome development for women’s sport in India, Mashal Sports, organizers of the Pro Kabaddi League, have taken a leaf out of the BCCI handbook and its upcoming Women’s Premier League, announcing plans to launch a franchise-based women’s tournament.
The PKL is in its 10th year and the as yet unnamed women’s league will be launched in collaboration with the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) and the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).
“Our plans for a professional women’s kabaddi league are based on the success we have seen in the men’s league. The plan is also part of our vision and commitment to grow kabaddi as a modern world-class sport from India,” said PKL commissioner Anupam Goswami in a statement.
“We will be working with our various stakeholders, including the AKFI and the International Kabaddi Federation to launch the women’s league,” Goswami added.
PKL, which was launched in 2014, currently has 12 teams making up the league. The eighth season of PKL was postponed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the season commenced on December 22, 2021.
PKL uses a franchise-based model and its first season was held in 2014 with eight teams, each of which committed to pay up to $250,000 over ten years to join the league.
A women’s league was already contemplated when a trial league was organised in 2016. Three teams — Firebirds, IceDivas, and StormQueens — took part in this tournament, which was called the Women’s Kabaddi Challenge.
