Pro-Kabaddi League:Changing the Face of Indian Kabaddi

In early 2015 when Indian Kabaddi player Rakesh Kumar (Kumar) was stranded and looking for help in Cape Town airport, the last thing he expected was to experience the kind of fan moment generally reserved for sportspersons of more popular sports or film stars in India. Kumar was taken by surprise when a child from an Indian family whom he approached, identified him as the captain of the Patna Pirates kabaddi team “When I approached an Indian couple to help me communicate with the airport staff after missing the flight in South Africa, their eight-year-old boy instantly recognised me and said, ‘I know you! You are Rakesh Kumar, the captain of Patna Pirates team.’ It was an unforgettable moment,” said a thrilled Kumar. According to industry observers, it was not Kumar alone who had had such an experience. Most Indian kabaddi players had become household names and were basking in their newfound celebrity status, thanks to the popularity of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), which had revolutionized the sport of kabaddi in India.