"Before Pro Kabaddi, we used to feel bad while saying we are a kabaddi player"- How PKL has become a career path for youngsters, coaches and referees
The Pro Kabaddi League is one of the most-followed sports tournaments in the world right now. It started on July 26, 2014, with Jaipur Pink Panthers taking on U Mumba in the first match. Six other teams, namely Telugu Titans, Bengaluru Bulls, Dabang Delhi, Puneri Paltan, Patna Pirates and Bengal Warriors participated in the competition.
Like the IPL changed the world of cricket, the PKL brought about a revolution in the kabaddi world. Indian audiences welcomed the sport's new avatar with open arms. The concept of a do-or-die raid, caravan format for league games and nail-biting thrillers every evening made the tournament more exciting.
The tournament also proved to be a game-changer in the lives of kabaddi players, coaches and match officials, who did not earn much before the league's inception.
Sharing his views on how the PKL has changed his life, referee Ajit Kumar exclusively told Sportskeeda:
"Before Pro Kabaddi, we used to feel bad while saying we are a kabaddi player and kabaddi official. Because people did not like kabaddi. So we did not even tell that we are associated with kabaddi."
"There is a certain status associated now. My parents also say my profession with great pride. They are also very happy when others tell them that their son comes on TV, comes on Pro Kabaddi."
Millions of fans tuned in to watch the PKL every evening. The tournament attracted a lot of sponsors, which led to a massive increase in the players' salaries as well. In the first season, the most expensive player earned ₹12.90 lakh, while in season 10, the most expensive player's salary was ₹2.605 crore.
Besides, several players like Anup Kumar, Rahul Chaudhari, Deepak Hooda, Pardeep Narwal, Rakesh Kumar, Surender Nada, Mohit Chhillar, Jeeva Kumar, Mohammadreza Shadloui, Fazel Atrachali, Meraj Sheykh, Ajay Thakur, Manjeet Chhillar, Dharamraj Cheralathan, Jasvir Singh, Rajesh Narwal, Pawan Sehrawat, Naveen Kumar and many others have become celebrities, thanks to their solid performances in the PKL.
It shows how far the league has come in a decade. The number of teams also increased from eight to 12 in 2017, with Gujarat Giants, UP Yoddhas, Tamil Thalaivas and Haryana Steelers joining the league. This resulted in more employment opportunities.
"I am not that active on Facebook and Instagram, but people recognize me wherever I go"- Kabaddi coach K Bhaskaran on how Pro Kabaddi has impacted his social status
It's not just the players and referees, but the social status of kabaddi coaches have also changed because of the Pro Kabaddi League.
K Bhaskaran was Jaipur Pink Panthers' coach when they won the inaugural championship. He remained with Jaipur for two more seasons before joining Puneri Paltan. After that, he had a stint with Tamil Thalaivas, after which he took a brief hiatus from the tournament. He returned in season nine as Bengal Warriors' coach and continued in the same role in PKL 10.
When asked to share the experience of his coaching journey in the Pro Kabaddi League, K Bhaskaran exclusively told Sportskeeda:
"After winning season one, I received a lot of positive comments from players and fans. Many people called me as well. In season two, I tried my best as a coach, but players could not implement it. Still, the people around me kept on motivating me that I am doing good as a coach."
"I joined Puneri Paltan in season four. I worked with experienced players. There, I helped them fine tune some things. The players responded well, and they performed well on the mat. We ended up reaching semifinals. After that, in season five, I joined Tamil Thalaivas, and I received a warm welcome from the Tamil people. Recently, I worked with Bengal Warriors," he added.
Further commenting on how the league has improved his image in public, K Bhaskaran continued:
"My public image improved a lot in these years. Although the results did not go our way always. This league motivated me to coach young players, maybe even start my own academy as well because quite a few youngsters have reached out to me to coach them. I am thinking about starting an academy soon."
Bhaskaran even mentioned that he does not share his photos or videos regularly on social media platforms. However, thanks to the Pro Kabaddi League, people recognize now him wherever he goes.
"I don't use social media much. I use WhatsApp mostly. I am not that active on Facebook and Instagram, but people recognize me wherever I go. People tell me about the way they see me coaching different teams and giving tips to players during the break. My social status has improved because of PKL. My aim is to achieve higher now," Bhaskaran concluded.
The Pro Kabaddi League will celebrate its 10th birthday on July 26, 2024. The league's 11th season is expected to take place later this year.