Pro Kabaddi: A Deep Dive into India’s Professional Kabaddi League

Pro Kabaddi is a professional kabaddi league in India that was founded in 2014. The league is organized by Mashal Sports, a company that was formed by the merger of two existing kabaddi leagues in India: the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) and the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).

Pro Kabaddi is played in a format similar to that of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in cricket, with each team representing a city in India. The league has a total of 12 teams, with each team comprising of a squad of 12-14 players.

History of Kabaddi

Kabaddi is a traditional sport that originated in ancient India and has been played for centuries. The game is believed to have originated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where it was known as “Chedugudu.” Kabaddi is a team sport that involves two teams of seven players each, with each team occupying opposite halves of a playing field.

The game is played by one player from one team, known as the “raider,” entering the opposing team’s half and attempting to tag as many of the opposing players as possible before returning to his own half. The game is played with a continuous flow, and the teams take turns sending raiders into each other’s territory.

Format of Pro Kabaddi

Pro Kabaddi is played in a league format, with each team playing a total of 22 matches in the league stage. The top six teams at the end of the league stage qualify for the playoffs, which are played in a knockout format. The final is played between the two teams that emerge victorious in the semifinals.

Each match of Pro Kabaddi consists of two halves, every 20 minutes in duration. The teams score points by successfully raiding the opposing team’s half and by defending their own half. A successful raid is one in which the raider successfully tags at least one opposing player and returns to his own half without being tackled.

A team scores one point for each player that is tagged in a successful raid. In addition, teams can also score bonus points by successfully tackling the raider before he returns to his own half or by forcing the raider out of bounds.

Teams and players in Pro Kabaddi

Pro Kabaddi currently has 12 teams, each representing a city in India. The teams are:

1. Bengal Warriors
2. Tamil Thalaivas
3. Patna Pirates
4. Puneri Paltan
5. Haryana Steelers
6. Gujarat Fortune Giants
7. UP Yoddha
8. Telugu Titans
9. Dabang Delhi K.C.
10. Bengaluru Bulls
11. Jaipur Pink Panthers
12. U Mumba

Each team has a squad of 12-14 players, with a maximum of eight foreign players allowed in each squad. The players are divided into three categories: raiders, defenders, and all-rounders. Raiders are the players who are responsible for scoring points for the team by raiding the opposing team’s half and tagging as many players as possible.

Defenders are the players who are responsible for preventing the opposing team’s raiders from scoring points and for tackling the raiders when they enter their own half. All-rounders are players who are capable of playing both as raiders and as defenders.

Pro Kabaddi Season

Pro Kabaddi has a total of seven seasons, with the first season starting in 2014 and the seventh season being played in 2021. Each season consists of a league stage, in which all the teams play a total of 22 matches, followed by the playoffs.

Rules of Pro Kabaddi

The rules of Pro Kabaddi are based on the traditional rules of kabaddi, with some modifications to suit the professional format of the league. Some of the key rules of Pro Kabaddi are:

1. Each team has seven players on the field at a time, with a maximum of eight players on the bench.
2. Each match consists of two halves of 20 minutes each, with a five-minute break between the halves.
3. A team scores a point for each player that is tagged by the raider in a successful raid. Bonus points are also awarded for successful tackles and for forcing the raider out of bounds.
4. A raid is considered successful if the raider successfully tags at least one opposing player and returns to his own half without being tackled.
5. If the raider is tackled before he returns to his own half, the opposing team scores a point, and the raider’s team is eliminated from the raid.
6. If the raider steps out of bounds, the opposing team scores a point, and the raider’s team is eliminated from the raid.
7. If the raider is able to tag at least one opposing player and return to his own half without being tackled or stepping out of bounds, his team scores a point and retains possession of the raid.
8. A team can also score a point if the opposing team cannot send a raider within 30 seconds of the previous raid. This is known as an “empty raid.”

Pro Kabaddi Awards

Pro Kabaddi has a number of awards that are presented to the top players and teams in the league. Some of the key awards are:

1. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is presented to the player who has made the greatest contribution to his team during the season.
2. The Best Raider award is presented to the player who has scored the most points for his team through successful raids.
3. The Best Defender award is presented to the player who has made the most tackles and successful defensive plays for his team.
4. The Best All-Rounder award is presented to the player who has excelled both as a raider and as a defender for his team.
5. The Emerging Player award is presented to the player who has shown the most potential and made the biggest impact in his first season in Pro Kabaddi.
6. The Fair Play award is presented to the team that has demonstrated the highest level of sportsmanship and fair play throughout the season.

The popularity of Pro Kabaddi

Since its inception in 2014, Pro Kabaddi has grown in popularity in India and has become one of the most-watched sports leagues in the country. The league has attracted a large number of sponsors and has signed a number of television deals, making it one of the most lucrative sports leagues in India. The success of Pro Kabaddi has also led to the development of professional kabaddi leagues in other countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the United States.

Conclusion

Pro Kabaddi is a professional kabaddi league in India that has gained widespread popularity since its inception in 2014. The league features 12 teams representing different cities in India and is played in a format similar to that of the Indian Premier League in cricket.

Pro Kabaddi has a number of awards for the top players and teams in the league and has attracted a large number of sponsors and television deals. The success of Pro Kabaddi has also led to the development of professional kabaddi leagues in other countries.

Hashtags

#ProKabaddi #Kabaddi #Sports #PKL #Kabaddi #IndianSport #IndianPremierLeague #PKLSeason #PKL7 #PKL2022 #PKLFinal #PKLPlayoffs

You can use these hashtags when sharing this post on social media.

If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to share it with your friends on social media, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.