Pakistan to stage first ever Kabaddi League next year

KARACHI: Pakistan’s first ever Kabaddi League is in the pipeline, with the inaugural season to be played in 2017.

Several teams named after cities will participate in the League, which promises to be the first-of-its kind to be played entirely on Pakistani soil.

Talking about the League, Rana Muhammad Sarwar, General Secretary of Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) said: “Strawberry Sports Management are the owners of the private sector-led League. PKF is delighted to be their exclusive technical collaborator for the ten years plus format of the League.”

Haider Ali Daud, Chief Executive Officer of Strawberry Sports Management, said: “The League will be the dawn of a new era for sports in Pakistan. Sports have a far reaching influence on people’s lives, and we believe it is high time we nurture and promote local sports. The League has so far received phenomenal response from the corporate sector.”

Strawberry Sports Management is a Pakistani sports management company with international presence and is geared towards spreading sports in people’s lives.

Strawberry Sports Management, the owners of the Kabaddi League, will be conducting a press conference soon which will introduce the League, sponsors, team franchise owners and media partners.

Meanwhile, India has been organising a professional Kabaddi League since 2014 to promote the indigenous sport. The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), as it is called, is designed along the format of the Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament and has been successful in popularising the sport among the masses.

Pakistan overpowered India 30-28 to win their first ever kabaddi gold in the 5th Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam in September this year.