Kabaddi players from Tamil Nadu, participating in an Inter-University competition in Bathinda, Punjab, were assaulted on Friday, according to reports. The fight broke out after the players were unhappy with a decision of the match referee, the reports claimed. The student-athletes from various universities such as Mother Teresa University, Periyar University, Alagappa University and Bharathiar University were competing in the North Zone Inter University & All India Inter University Kabaddi (Women) Championship 2024-25 

According to a report in India Today, the athletes were allegedly first attacked by players of a rival team. The report added that a ‘foul attack’ called against Mother Teresa University during the game with Darbhanga University resulted in an altercation. The referee of the kabaddi match attacked a member of the Mother Teresa team after argument broke out following an appeal. 

In a video which has gone viral on social media, players can be seen clashing with few men. It is not clear from the video, whether they were officials or spectators. Chairs were also hurled by both parties.  

It is shocking that Tamil Nadu women players who went to play Kabaddi in Punjab were attacked. The attack took place during a Kabadi match between Punjab and Tamil Nadu. I urge the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ji to take appropriate enquiry and action on attackers.… pic.twitter.com/vIZrG0EsVn

— Devakumaar (@DevakumaarOffcl) January 24, 2025

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said that the girls were safe and will return to the state soon.

“There was a small incident today morning. I have spoken to the Physical Education Director, Mr Kalaiarasi. Now everything is under control. No major injuries or anything. First aid was given to the students. They will return to Delhi and they will be made to stay at Delhi House (Tamil Nadu House in Delhi) tonight. They are leaving from Delhi in the night the day after tomorrow. They will be reaching Chennai very shortly,” he said.

#WATCH | Chennai: On Kabaddi players from the state attacked in Punjab, Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin says, “There was a small incident today morning. I have spoken to the Physical Education Director, Kalaiarasi. Now everything is under control. There are no major… pic.twitter.com/C24kRLLGlI

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2025

It is time for a battle royale as PKL Season 11’s playoffs week is all set to commence from December 26 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune. In the fray for the top prize are Haryana Steelers and UP Yoddhas, both of whom have never won the title, and along with them are three-time champions Patna Pirates, Season 8 winners Dabang Delhi K.C., Season 1 & 9 title holders Jaipur Pink Panthers, and Season 2 champions U Mumba, who sealed qualification for the playoffs with the last game of the league stage. The playoff race going to the last match of the league stage is a testament to how competitive this season has been, setting the stage for an exciting final week for season 11, a release said.

Ahead of a week that is set to celebrate the sport of Kabaddi in more ways than one, the six coaches, Manpreet Singh (Haryana Steelers), Joginder Narwal (Dabang Delhi K.C.), Jasveer Singh (UP Yoddhas), Narender Redhu (Patna Pirates), Gholamreza Mazandarani (U Mumba) and Sanjeev Baliyan (Jaipur Pink Panthers) spoke at length at the Panga Roundtable, and touched upon various aspects of PKL Season 11. Staying true to the “Fan First” approach that has become synonymous with the PKL, also present at the engaging Panga Roundtable were the Super Fans, who made their presence felt too.

Table toppers Haryana Steelers, who are through to the semi-finals, are gunning for their first PKL title, and coach Manpreet Singh, who was full of praise for the Show-Stopper Mohammadreza Shadloui, said the team is like a family. “The players are all like my younger brothers, and we will work together, and leave no stone unturned when we play our semi-final. Having qualified for the Semi-final directly is a source of great motivation for the team before the final week, and for Haryana, a state which has won so many medals in other sports, it is the PKL title that remains elusive, and hopefully, we can win it.”

The Dabang Delhi K.C. have been one of the best teams this season and have stitched together a 15-match unbeaten streak, which helped them secure the second position on the points table. Having qualified for the semi-final already, coach Joginder Narwal, who has won the PKL title as a skipper in Season 8, spoke about the bond between his two co-captains – Ashu Malik and Naveen Kumar. “I have played with both Ashu and Naveen in the previous years in the PKL itself, and they are like best friends. The two of them have a great chemistry and always stick together, and that bond is visible on the mat also. The team is like a complete family, and going into the playoffs, they are all fit and in-form.”

The UP Yoddhas, who had to go back to the drawing board before the season began, has seen their young raiders and the defence step up in style. Coach Jasveer Singh said, “The team lost a couple of big players, but the core of the team remained together, and have worked hard as well.” When asked about how well his side has closed out a few tight contests, the coach explained, “Winning closely fought matches is not easy and it is more of a habit which one has to develop over time. We always train accordingly, so that on the matchday, the players know how to deal with the situation and the pressure.”

Three-time champions Patna Pirates’ Narender Redhu heaped praise on the dynamic and dangerous duo of Devank and Ayan, who have taken to the big stage like fish does to water. “Before the start of PKL Season 11, in our camps, we could see that Devank and Ayan will form a formidable pair for us as raiders. We had also seen them playing in other tournaments, and we are lucky in a way that they are both in our squad, and we have given them the freedom to play, and they have grabbed their opportunity with both hands.”

U Mumba stormed into the PKL Season 11 Playoffs with a superb win against the Bengal Warriorz in the final league stage game this season. Among the highlights for U Mumba this season has been that the young brigade have led from the front. Reflecting on the journey, U Mumba coach Gholamreza Mazandarani said, “We are very happy to have made it to the Playoffs. And the thing is the young players have done really well. They always want to do something different, like make a new record and have excellent energy as well. Players like Ajith Chauhan and Rohit Raghav are very skilful and the more they play at the highest level in PKL, they will continue to improve.”

Having finished sixth on the points table, the Jaipur Pink Panthers are looking for their third title. And coach Sanjeev Baliyan believes that the mentality and preparations for the Playoffs Week has to be different. He said, “The Playoffs is a different kettle of fish and there are no second chances like during the league stage. And moreover, to win the PKL title again, the whole squad has to play well, and support Arjun Deshwal. So far, whenever the team has needed it, there has been someone who has stepped up, especially if Arjun hasn’t had a good day, and it is essential to keep that going.”

Eliminator 1 will see the third placed UP Yoddhas take on the Jaipur Pink Panthers, who were sixth on the points table in the league stage. Both the sides have only one thing in mind, which is progressing to the semi-final, and will go all out for the win.

After that, in Eliminator 2, the most decorated team in the PKL, Patna Pirates, will play the U Mumba side, in what is a battle of the young raiders. Both sides have had a fantastic run of form during the league stage, and will be keen to make a splash in the final week of 2024 as well.

Jaipur Pink Panthers’ captain Arjun Deshwal added another feather to his cap as he became the second fastest player in Pro Kabaddi League history to reach the prestigious 1000 raid points milestone. The achievement came during his team’s 33-30 win over UP Yoddhas, which was also his 97th PKL match. Despite reaching the milestone, a humble Deshwal was more elated about the victory than his personal achievement, “The team’s victory was more important than the 1000 points. But both happened together, and I’m happy about that.”

When asked about who the achievement was dedicated to, Deshwal’s response reflected his deep connection to the sport. “If I have to thank anyone, it would be kabaddi first. Whatever name, fame, and success I have today is because of kabaddi, the Pro Kabaddi League and Mashal Sports. Thanks to kabaddi for giving me everything,” he said.

This achievement is even more remarkable considering Deshwal became the seventh player in PKL history to reach this milestone. His consistent performances and hard work have been key to this accomplishment. “When a player puts in hard work, it always bears fruit sooner or later. So whatever hard work we’re putting in is showing results now. “

The raider also acknowledged the collective effort behind his individual success. “This is kabaddi – a single player can’t achieve anything. Team support and coach support are very crucial. I’ve received all of this, along with my parents’ blessings,” he said.

Deshwal’s leadership has been instrumental in Jaipur Pink Panthers’ campaign, with teammates like Neeraj Narwal and stepping up to support him. The milestone came during a strong showing from his team, demonstrating their all-round performance.

Preview for Matches on November 7:

Dabang Delhi K.C. will be hoping to end their losing streak when they take on the Bengal Warriorz in the first match on Thursday. The Bengal Warriorz are currently on an unbeaten four-match streak, and all eyes will be on their raiders Maninder Singh and Sushil Kambrekar, who will face off against a faltering Dabang Delhi K.C. defence.

The other game of the day will see the Haryana Steelers take on Gujarat Giants. Looking for some consistency, the Haryana Steelers will pin their hopes on Mohammedreza Shadloui and Jaideep Dahiya. For the Gujarat Giants, they will have to bring back their A-Game if they hope for a win to finish the Hyderabad leg on a high.

A new look Gujarat Giants are keen to return to pick up a series of wins as they look to build some momentum in PKL Season 11. The Gujarat Giants, who are captained by Neeraj Kumar and coached by Ram Mehar Singh, have their task cut out in the coming weeks. Speaking about the Gujarat Giants’ performance and the way forward, coach Ram Mehar Singh, said, “Our defence has made a few mistakes here and there in the last game, which has affected the result, but we are confident that our raiding department, and even our defence is quite strong. The defensive unit and the attackers have made mistakes, but it is okay. We will work hard in the coming games to ensure that we don’t make mistakes.”

“All the teams in PKL Season 11 are very good and I don’t believe that one side is far better in terms of defence or attack. It is about winning the key moments and working hard on the mat, and avoiding mistakes. All the teams are equal and it is about the team getting set properly on the day, during the game and working together in defence and raiding. Both the attackers and defenders have to work in tandem for a team to function well,” added Ram Mehar Singh. 

For the Gujarat Giants, the season so far has seen them win against the Bengaluru Bulls, after which they were handed a defeat by U Mumba in a closely contested game. “Like our coach said, our defensive department has to work harder to close out and win the important moments, so that we can win the tight contests in the upcoming weeks. We will work on our plans in training and do things accordingly, so that the mistakes are reduced going ahead,” said captain Neeraj Kumar. 

The Gujarat Giants skipper concurred on the coach’s thoughts, saying, “For a team to win, it is absolutely essential that our attackers and defenders have to work well.” 

Preview for the Matches on October 28:

The first game of Monday will see the Manpreet Singh coached Haryana Steelers take on the Dabang Delhi K.C. side. The Haryana Steelers lost their opening game against Puneri Paltan, but roared back to win the second game against the Jaipur Pink Panthers, and will be looking to build on that. In the opposite corner, the Dabang Delhi K.C. side defeated U Mumba in their season opener and lost against the UP Yoddhas, before winning in style against the Telugu Titans. 

In the second game of the day, the Telugu Titans, led by Pawan Sehrawat, square up against the Patna Pirates. The Telugu Titans won their season opener against the Bengaluru Bulls but have failed to get over the line against the Tamil Thalaivas, Jaipur Pink Panthers and the Dabang Delhi K.C. in the games after that. Meanwhile, the Patna Pirates, have played two games so far, losing the first against the Puneri Paltan, and winning the next against the Tamil Thalaivas, with the young Devank putting in a scintillating performance. 

Please find below the schedule for PKL Season 11 match on Monday, October 28:   

Match 1 – Haryana Steelers vs Dabang Delhi K.C. – 8pm

Match 2 – Telugu Titans vs Patna Pirates – 9 pm   

For all updates on the Pro Kabaddi league, log on to www.prokabaddi.com, download the Official Pro Kabaddi app or follow @prokabaddi on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X.

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on Disney+ Hotstar from October 18.

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) will make its much-awaited return to the mat on Friday, October 18. The Battle of Breath will kickstart with a thrilling opener where the Telugu Titans and the Bengaluru Bulls square off at the GMCB Indoor Stadium, Gachibowli in Hyderabad. In anticipation of the new season, a grand launch was held at the Hyatt Place, at Banjara Hills, in Hyderabad. The event was graced by PKL League Commissioner & Head of Sports Leagues at Mashal Sports, Mr. Anupam Goswami, along with team captains Pawan Sehrawat (Telugu Titans) and Pardeep Narwal (Bengaluru Bulls).

Captains of the remaining 10 teams were also present as they kicked off the PKL season. 

One of the most exciting moments of the day was when an exhibition match was held featuring the PKL captains and a team of prominent creators, as a result of our partnership with Meta. Some of the prominent creators present at the match included the Big Nerds, Hardik Banga, Sidhant Sarfare, Ashish Singh, amongst others, bringing a fresh and engaging dynamic to the sport.

Expressing his thoughts on the journey so far and the upcoming season, Mr. Anupam Goswami, League Commissioner, Pro Kabaddi League said, “The first decade of the PKL has been a huge achievement, but for us, the focus is on using the experiences to help prepare for the next phase, and further build on the success stories. The players have received a lot of support over the years. And one of the standout aspects is the confidence with which the players say they are kabaddi athletes. After helping rediscover a world class Indian sport, the next phase of this important journey involves going to newer shores. There has been a significant amount of interest internationally for the PKL. We have always worked with a fan-first thought process, and we promise to be relentless in our approach towards that.”

Telugu Titans’ captain Pawan Sehrawat also shared his excitement for the opening match by saying, “I am very happy that we, Telugu Titans, will play the opening game of the season at Hyderabad in front of our home fans. The fans have always supported us a lot, and we are sure there will be more of the same when we walk onto the mat. The team is in a good place and we are confident of doing well.” 

Bengaluru Bulls’ captain Pardeep Narwal was ready for the challenge that lies ahead as he returns to the team that gave him his PKL debut. Ahead of the opening match, he said, “Season 11 of the PKL will be huge and we are very excited to come into the tournament and we have prepared well throughout the pre-season for this. Our team is very well balanced and the Bulls are keen to start off with a bang.” 

Preparations for PKL 11 began on a historic note as eight players were sold for over INR 1 crore in the auction held in Mumbai. After Pawan and Pardeep take to the mat on Friday, the second match of the night will see U Mumba’s Sunil Kumar – the most expensive Indian defender in PKL history after being bought for INR 1.015 Crores – take on the attacking prowess of Naveen Kumar, who is among the star raiders for Dabang Delhi K.C.

This time around, PKL will be returning to a three-city format, with the 2024 edition commencing at the GMCB Indoor Stadium, Gachibowli in Hyderabad from October 18 to November 9. It will then move to the Noida Indoor Stadium for the second leg starting on November 10 till December 1. The third leg will begin at the Badminton Hall in the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune from December 3 to December 24. 

As the PKL moves into Season 11, our commitment to putting fans first, both digitally and on-ground, remains stronger than ever. This season, we are thrilled to provide our superfans with once-in-a-lifetime experiences, a tradition we plan to build on in the future. Through immersive digital interventions and unforgettable in-stadia moments, we aim to create more memorable connections and make our fans an integral part of the PKL journey.

Two-time Pro Kabaddi League runners-up, Gujarat Giants, will be looking to put their best foot forward in a bid to secure the elusive PKL title in Season 11. One of the most consistent teams in the league, the Giants have reached the Playoffs in four of the six PKL seasons in which they have competed. The Giants exited the league last season after losing to Haryana Steelers in the Eliminator and will be eager to go the distance in the upcoming campaign under the guidance of head coach Ram Mehar Singh, who led Patna Pirates to PKL glory in Season 5.

Heavily active at the Season 11 Player Auction, Gujarat Giants signed a total of 15 players as they looked to build a strong squad capable of challenging for the title. With that in mind, let’s examine the strengths and weaknesses of Gujarat Giants ahead of Pro Kabaddi League Season 11.

Strengths

One of Gujarat Giants’ undeniable strengths heading into Season 11 of the PKL is their formidable raiding unit. Blessed with attacking depth and multiple raiding options, the Giants will primarily rely on the likes of Guman Singh, Parteek Dahiya, and Rakesh to break down opposition defences.

Much will hinge on Guman Singh, who is expected to be the team’s main raider after they acquired him for INR 1.97 crore at the Season 11 Player Auction. Ninth on the leaderboard for most raid points (163) in Season 10, Guman has accumulated 400 raid points in the PKL and will be counted on to lead the Giants’ attack. He will be supported by Parteek Dahiya and Rakesh, both of whom are more than capable of wreaking havoc on opposition defences on their day.

Parteek Dahiya, in particular, has been impressive for Gujarat Giants, amassing 308 raid points in his two seasons with the team. Rakesh, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after a slightly underwhelming campaign last season and will be eager to add to his 379 raid points in Season 11. Monu is another player who has proven his ability to contribute in attack, with 109 raid points to his name in the PKL.

Weaknesses

While their attack looks strong on paper, Gujarat Giants’ defence leaves much to be desired. Apart from Sombir and Neeraj Kumar, the Giants lack well-established defenders who have made a significant impact in the league. Sombir has managed 194 tackle points in the PKL, while Neeraj Kumar has accumulated 172 tackle points.

To address their defensive weaknesses, the Giants bought the likes of Nitesh, Manuj, Mohit, Harsh Lad, and Iranian Vahid Rezaeimehr at the Season 11 Player Auction. However, none of them have sufficient PKL experience to guarantee success. Moreover, Gujarat Giants’ defensive shortcomings cost them in several close games last season, and it remains to be seen whether this influx of relatively inexperienced defenders can improve their defence.

Opportunities

With their defence not looking up to the mark, a lot about Gujarat Giants will boil down to their all-round talents. The likes of Mohammad Nabibakhsh and Balaji D will need to make their presence felt in tackles and have proved that they are capable of doing so in the past. While Mohammad Nabibakhsh has accounted for 79 tackle points in PKL, Balaji D has scored 42.

Additionally, Neeraj Kumar’s performance in defence will be crucial after a below-par campaign last time around. He has performed well under the tutelage of head coach Ram Mehar Singh in the past and will be hoping to return to his best in Season 11. Monu is another player who could show his defensive prowess and help strengthen the Giants’ defence.

He has 114 tackle points in PKL and will be hoping to execute a few more tackles to help with the balance of the team. Monu and Mohammad Nabibakhsh could be crucial to the Giants as they can be effective on both ends of the mat and it will be interesting to see if they make the most of the opportunities presented to them.

Threats

As far as threats go, the general lack of experience across both Gujarat Giants’ defensive and raiding units could pose a significant area of concern to the team’s fortunes in Season 11. This proved to be a problem for the Giants in Season 10 as well when they lost plenty of close contests that they should have won.

Even their strong raiding unit will be led by Guman Singh, who isn’t the most experienced main raider in the league, to say the least. While Guman can be a menace to any defence on his day, it is imperative that he makes the most of his past experiences in the league to become a more consistent performer who can be relied on. At the end of the day, how Gujarat Giants’ squad overcomes their relative inexperience is what could be the defining factor in their Season 11 campaign.

Teams and captains during the jersey launch.© IPKL

India and Poland are more than 6000 kilometres apart from each other, separated by continents, seas and oceans but are connected by a single thread — the sport of kabaddi. The game that originated in the ruler hinterland of the country is now an upcoming sport that has caught the imagination of Polish youngsters and has resulted in the European nation winning titles in Europe and representing the continent in the Kabaddi World Cups.

The ‘kabaddi connection’ between the two countries was brought to light by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. PM Modi, who is on an official visit to Poland, revealed the connection between the countries through kabaddi during his address

“We are connected through the game of Kabaddi as well. This game reached Poland through India and they took it to great heights. Poland is going to host the Kabaddi championship for the first time. I want to wish good luck to their team,” the Prime Minister said while delivering his keynote address at a function celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Poland.

To take forward the sport’s connection between the two countries, PM Modi will be meeting the captains of Poland’s men’s and women’s Kabaddi teams on Thursday.

Kabaddi is quite popular in Poland, as it resembles the European game of tag and wrestling, and they are the current European Champions. Michal Spickzo from Poland was the first European to play in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), the fastest-growing professional league in the country.

It was introduced in Poland when a sportsperson from India, Abhishek Sharma, decided to start a club. With the support of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) member Ashok Das, Abhishek Sharma, who moved to Poland in 2007 after completing his MS course in Bio-Technology, started the ‘Kabaddi Project’ in 2010. Since then, Sharma has poured all the money he earned into popularising kabaddi and has brought the sport to this stage.

The Poland men’s national team qualified and played in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup in Ahmedabad, India, and caused a sensation by defeating the then World Champions Iran in a preliminary group match.

Though they finished fourth in the group and failed to advance to the next stage, the result showed that Kabaddi has a bright future in Poland.

The current visit by Prime Minister Modi is sure to further strengthen the connection between the two countries.

File photo of Sachin Tanwar.© X/@DeepakS90565715