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The Asian Kabaddi League (AKL) has announced the launch of what it describes as the world’s first fully structured, commercially funded and formally broadcast professional women’s kabaddi league, marking a major step forward for the sport’s commercial growth and visibility.
The inaugural season is scheduled to begin in August 2026 and will feature eight city-based franchises along with nearly 120 contracted women athletes. The league will operate under a professional franchise model aimed at creating long-term opportunities for women kabaddi players across India and Asia.
AKL has also confirmed a broadcast partnership with Sony Sports Network, ensuring nationwide television coverage for the competition. The move is expected to significantly boost the visibility of women’s kabaddi, a sport that has traditionally lacked sustained commercial investment and broadcast exposure despite strong grassroots participation.
According to league officials, players participating in the competition will receive professional contracts, salaries, coaching support and access to sports science and performance infrastructure. The league aims to establish a year-round professional ecosystem for women athletes rather than operating as a short-term tournament property.
Shauryaveer Chandwani, Director, Asian Kabaddi League, said, “The partnership with Sony Sports Network is not just a broadcast deal. It is a declaration — that women’s kabaddi belongs in prime time, that these athletes belong on the biggest stage Indian sport has to offer.”
Vikram Vijay Chandan, President — Revenue Growth & Media, Asian Kabaddi League, added, “We are not building a niche property — we are building the definitive professional platform for a sport with 400 million viewers already on record, a grassroots base unlike anything else in India, and a women’s audience that brands and broadcasters have been trying to reach for years.”
The development comes amid rising investment and sponsor interest in women’s sports globally, with India witnessing significant growth in women-focused sporting properties across cricket and other disciplines. Kabaddi, already one of the country’s most widely followed sports, offers an established audience base and strong regional fan engagement, factors AKL hopes to leverage through its franchise model.
The league is expected to announce franchise owners, team identities and player acquisition details in the coming months ahead of the inaugural season launch next year.
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