Pro Kabaddi: Passion, Courage, and Glory on the Kabaddi Mat

The collaboration of Mashal Sports Pvt. Ltd and Disney Star have revolutionized the sport of kabaddi through their innovative initiative, Vivo Pro Kabaddi.

Since its inception in 2014, this league has become an aspirational sport for players and fans alike by introducing remarkable changes that have transformed the game.

What is a Pro Kabaddi?

The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), alongside members of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) and the Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF), has supported this league which has led to its tremendous growth over the years.

Revolutionizing the Kabaddi Game

Mashal Sports and Disney Star have played a vital role in bringing kabaddi to international standards by implementing exciting rule changes and enhancing the overall viewing experience, thus ushering in a new era for this traditional Indian sport.

This initiative has revitalized kabaddi by introducing it to major cities in India as well as regions where it was previously unknown.

Due to these efforts, vivo Pro Kabaddi has seen widespread participation from all parts of India with support from Mashal Sports' programs designed to nurture young talent nationwide.

Aspiring players from India and abroad now recognize kabaddi as a viable career option thanks to this groundbreaking initiative.

Addition of More Teams

The fifth edition of the Vivo Pro Kabaddi league made history with the addition of four new teams, namely Gujarat Giants, Haryana Steelers, Tamil Thalaivas, and U.P. Yoddha.

This expansion has made it India's largest sports league in terms of geographical representation and number of teams, injecting a fresh dose of intensity and excitement into the competition that has kept fans on the edge of their seats.

With its success story continuing to unfold, Vivo Pro Kabaddi is driving the popularity of this sport to unprecedented heights while also providing players with an incredible platform to showcase their skills on a grand stage.

Through continuous innovation and strategic collaborations, the league aims to further expand its reach and impact across the globe by captivating fans' hearts and minds everywhere.

Format of Pro Kabaddi

The Pro Kabaddi League follows the same basic rules as the indoor team Kabaddi but with added regulations aimed at boosting scoring. This sport is played by two teams, each consisting of seven players.

• The primary objective is for an offensive player, known as a "raider," to cross into the opponent's half of the court, touch as many defenders as possible and then return to their own half without getting tackled.
• Points are awarded for each defender touched by the raider, while the opposing team earns a point for successfully stopping the raider.
• If a player is touched or tackled, they are temporarily out of play but can return when their team scores a point from touch or tackle.
• In case a raider fails to score after multiple unsuccessful attempts, they face a critical "Do or Die" situation where they must score a point or be eliminated from the game.
• When the defending team has only three or fewer players remaining, any tackles they make are called "Super Tackles" and carry double points instead of one that adds to the total of Kabaddi score.

Teams in the Vivo Pro Kabaddi

There are twelve teams that currently participate in the Pro Kabaddi League of India.

How did the past seasons of Pro Kabaddi pan out?

Season 1

The Pro Kabaddi League began in 2014 with immense hype as eight teams competed for five weeks to win the championship title.

It became one of the most-watched sporting events in India, and Jaipur Pink Panthers emerged as the champions by defeating U Mumba with a Kabaddi score of 35-24 in a thrilling final.

Season 2

Moving on to Season 2, which took place in July 2015, larger squads were introduced and new kabaddi talent was showcased.

U Mumba dominated the season and became champions by defeating Bengaluru Bulls by a Kabaddi score of 36-30 in an exciting final.

Season 3

Season 3 commenced just five months after Season 2 with growing popularity. The teams showed a balanced mix of defensive and attacking players, resulting in closely contested games.

Patna Pirates dethroned U Mumba in the finals securing a close-fought victory of 31-28 Kabaddi score.

Season 4

Season 4 returned in June 2016, marking the first time two consecutive seasons were played within the same calendar year. This season witnessed increased international participation and saw Patna Pirates retain their title by defeating Jaipur Pink Panthers with a Kabaddi score of 37-29.

Season 5

The fifth edition of Vivo Pro Kabaddi was the longest league history featuring numerous record-breaking performances. Pardeep Narwal led Patna Pirates to their third consecutive title making them champions once again.

Season 6

In Season six several records were shattered as Bengaluru Bulls clinched their maiden Pro Kabaddi title with Pawan Kumar Sehrawat being crowned MVP.

Season 7

Season seven showcased tough competition between raiders and defenders with Dabang Delhi K.C. emerging as champions while Naveen Kumar, Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, and Fazel Atrachali stood out as top performers.

Season 8

The latest season, Season Eight took place entirely in Bengaluru where Dabang Delhi K.C won their first-ever title with Naveen Kumar leading from the front winning the MVP award followed by Pawan Kumar Sehrawat and Fazel Atrachali as top raider and defender respectively.

Season 9

Finally, Season 9 brought back the excitement of live matches in multiple cities, where Jaipur Pink Panthers emerged as the champions with Arjun Deshwal securing the MVP title.