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Bangalore, July 4 (IANS) The sports ministry formally extended its support to the eight-city franchise-based Pro Kabaddi League to start in Mumbai on July 26. The games will be produced and telecast live on prime time TV by international broadcaster, Star Sports.
With the country ruling the roost across International Kabaddi Championships, Pro Kabaddi is a celebration and visual showcase of one of India's oldest sport. A pat on the back for the League, the Ministry's endorsement makes a strong case for the potential of the sport to regain its pre-eminence throughout India. In a letter to Mr. Charu Sharma, Managing Director of Mashal Sports, who is the brains behind Pro Kabaddi, Mr. Ajit M. Sharan, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports officially endorsed the league, stating, "It is indeed very heartening to know that Mashal Sports has taken such a bold, pioneering step in re-focusing the attention of the nation towards what is our own national heritage sport. Considering its zero equipment nature and development of stamina, strength, skill, strategy and team work, Kabaddi could once again drive the youth of India towards a fitter lifestyle."
For a country that has dominated Kabaddi internationally, winning six consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games since 1990, Pro Kabaddi will go a long way to extending India's reputation as a true global leader in the sport.
Expressing his delight at the Government's acknowledgement and support, Mr. Charu Sharma said, "It is very encouraging to have our efforts recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. One of the main aims of the Pro Kabaddi League is to provide a showcase for the modern, sophisticated, competitive flavour of the sport giving it the stature it deserves and establishing Kabaddi as an inspirational sport for the youth of the country. With the Government's approval we have moved closer to attaining that goal. With the amount of support we have received from all our partners, I have no doubt that Pro Kabaddi is rapidly moving towards becoming the next big thing in the global sports spectrum."
About Pro Kabaddi
A first significant initiative of Mashal Sports, driven by Anand Mahindra (Mahindra & Mahindra), Piyush Pandey (Ogilvy & Mather), Rajiv Luthra (Luthra & Luthra Law Offices) and Charu Sharma (Managing Director), is a revolutionary Pro Kabaddi league with franchises across eight Indian cities. Key partners include STAR Sports (Broadcaster), Ogilvy & Mather, World Sport Group, and the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), AsianKabaddi Federation (AKF) & Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI).
Pro Kabaddi takes the truly indigenous sport of Kabaddi to new levels of professionalism, which will benefit all stakeholders involved in the ecosystem of the game, Kabaddi, most of all, the players themselves, who will become the new role models for the youth of India.
This bold step will highlight the new, modern, international and competitive face of Kabaddi throughout the length and breadth of the country, and beyond.
