MKL goes Pro-Kabaddi way
Ropes in star players, hosts matches at Balewadi, along with separate women’s league
There is no doubt that the Pro-Kabaddi League has worked like a miracle for this basically desi sport. The popularity of the league has been on the rise over the last three seasons, and even the players are achieving celebrity status. The Maharashtra State Kabaddi Association (MSKA) has decided to cash in on the growing popularity of the sport, by launching its own Maha Kabaddi League (MKL) last year.
Although this has not brought in the anticipated glamour and television coverage, the MKL has been a boost for the state’s rural players, who didn’t get a chance to showcase their skills in the national league.
“The basic idea behind MKL was to provide a platform for state players who didn’t get much opportunity in the Pro League. Secondly, the sport is more popular in rural areas of Maharashtra, so instead of just concentrating on big cities like Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur, we had chosen Baramati, Sangli and Ahmednagar as venues for the league,” said Siddharth Mehta, CEO of MKL.
Unlike last year, the organisers have zeroed in on Pune and have hosted all their matches at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi.
However, in the second edition, the organisers wanted to attract more glamour and hence picked up some Pro-Kabaddi players along with other stars like international player Deepika Joseph. The player who had represented India in the 2010 Asian Games, 2012 SAFF Games and the first Kabaddi World Cup in Patna, in 2012, was also part of Pro-Kabaddi league in which she led the Storm Queens in Women’s Challenge.
As expected, she has become the most expensive player of the second season, as Ratnagiri Raiders roped her in at a price of Rs 94,000. She was followed by Swapnil Shinde who was bought by Kolhapur Hurricanes for Rs 88,000.
However, they are nowhere near the last edition’s auction price. In the last edition, Pune’s Neha Ghadge became the most expensive player of the league, when she was roped in by Baramati for Rs 2,28,000 in the auction. She was followed by Abhilasha Mhatre (Rs 2,26,000 — Raigad) and Sayali Keripal (Rs 2,08,000 — Mumbai). Even the cash prize has been reduced drastically. Last season, the winning team received a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh. This time, the winning team will get just Rs five lakh, and the runners-up teams will get Rs three lakh, apart from prizes for the best raider, man of the match and man of the series.
New teams
The second edition of the league will also have eight teams, but the Baramati Hurricanes and Nagar Challengers have been replaced by Kolhapur Hurricanes and Pimpri Chinchwad Challengers.
“We have just changed the names of the teams as we have got the new franchises. All the teams have picked up a new squad from the auction and thus it won’t matter to any player,” said Mehta.
The eight teams in the men’s section (Group A) are Thane Tigers, Kolhapur Hurricanes, Pune Panthers and Ratnagiri Raiders, and Group B including Sangli Royals, Raigad Dynamos, Mumbai Mahakal and Pimpri Chinchwad Challengers, who will fight for a berth in the semis.
Meanwhile, in the women’s A group, Thane Tigers , Sangli Royals, Pimpri Chinchwad Challengers and Mumbai Mahakal will be in the frey, and Kolhapur Hurricanes , Ratnagiri Raiders , Pune Panthers and Raigad Dynamos will be in Group B. While seven players were selected from auction, eight players made it to the team as owners’ choice.
“We made it compulsory to have rural players in the team as they would get a chance to showcase their skills,” said Mehta.
ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com
Originally published on The Golden Sparrow
