The Global Indian Pravasi Kabaddi League (GI-PKL) has officially launched with 12 teams set to compete in its inaugural season.
This marks a new chapter for kabaddi, featuring a unique structure where each franchise will field both men’s and women’s teams, making it the first league of its kind to embrace such an arrangement.
This innovative move aims to promote equality and inclusivity in a sport that has long been associated with male-dominated teams and competitions.
The GI-PKL was born from the merger of the Global Pravasi Kabaddi League (GPKL) and the Indian Premier Kabaddi League (IPKL), bringing both men and women under the same league banner.
The league will see teams from both genders competing on the same mat size, breaking new ground in the sport. This historic feature is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the sport, as both men and women will play on equal footing, something never before witnessed in kabaddi.
The newly formed league features six women’s teams and six men’s teams, each with a unique identity tied to a specific region of India. The women’s teams are named the Marathi Falcons, Bhojpuri Leopardess, Telugu Cheetahs, Tamil Lioness, Punjabi Tigress, and Haryanvi Eagles.
On the men’s side, the teams are the Marathi Vultures, Bhojpuri Leopards, Telugu Panthers, Tamil Lions, Punjabi Tigers, and Haryanvi Sharks. Each team’s name and identity reflect the cultural heritage and regional pride of the players and fans they represent.
With a total of 66 matches scheduled for the first season, the GI-PKL is set to run for almost a month, with matches spread across multiple venues.
The league is expected to draw significant attention, not only from kabaddi fans in India but also from a global audience, as it combines the excitement of competitive kabaddi with the thrill of international exposure.
A key feature of the league is its tagline, #KabaddiKiNayiJung, which translates to ‘A New Battle for Kabaddi’. This captures the essence of the league's mission: to redefine the sport by merging both men and women under one umbrella.
The league aims to provide equal opportunities for both genders while also making the sport more accessible to audiences worldwide.
Kanthi D. Suresh, president of the Holistic International Pravasi Sports Association (HIPSA), which oversees the GI-PKL, spoke enthusiastically about the league’s vision.
He explained that the GI-PKL not only celebrates India’s rich cultural diversity but also aims to promote kabaddi on a global scale. By having both men’s and women’s teams competing together, the league hopes to foster unity, empowerment, and equality in sports.
This is a significant step towards changing the perception of kabaddi and encouraging women to take part in this fast-paced and exciting sport.
In addition to promoting equality, the GI-PKL has been part of a broader effort to expand kabaddi internationally. In 2023, the GPKL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Haryana State Government to further promote women’s kabaddi globally.
This MOU is a part of a larger strategy to bring kabaddi to a global audience, and the league’s organisers are hopeful that it will encourage more nations to participate in the sport.
Moreover, HIPSA has also entered a 10-year MOU with the World Kabaddi Body, based in the United Kingdom, to help spread kabaddi across continents. This is part of an ambitious goal to include kabaddi in the Olympics.
To achieve this, kabaddi must meet the requirement of having active participation in at least 75 countries for men and 45 countries for women across four continents.
With the creation of the GI-PKL, it is clear that efforts are being made to globalise the sport and make it a significant part of the international sporting community.
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