Real Kabaddi League International Edition created history in Dubai on Sunday 15th December 2024 witnessing professionalism and fervour in the ancient Indian sport of Kabaddi. The tournament held at Al Nasr Indoor Stadium gave the city an electric vibe, and is a move towards internationalizing one of the oldest and most rapidly developing sports of India.
The launch of the Real Kabaddi League in Dubai provided the first glimmer of what the sport is all about – speed, strategy and strength – to sports fans in the Middle East. What a crowd the stadium was full magnificent raids, amazing defensive plays, and a display of pure talent and strength.
This was accompanied by appeals to the philosophical sense of the audience by such distinguished authorities and celebrities who expressed their love to the ancient roots of the game as well as its prospects at the international level.
Some notable attendees to the event includes Mr. Tariq Al Habtoor, who is a proud Emirati sports lover and a patron of upcoming international sports. Along with him Indian wrestling champion Sangram Singh and Miss Nicole Verma, a prominent sports personality.
Desi touch was introduced to the event with popular Indian Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty who passionately expounded on cricket’s cultural relevance while demonstrating how it can be extremely exciting. The event also witnessedMr. Yatin Patel, the Deputy Consul General of India in Dubai.
“Kabaddi is real, energetic and has its connection with the Indian tradition. It was great fun to be watching this match! Kabaddi is physically expressive and as a sport requires strength, balancing, dexterity and speed. I like the concept of going global and I am sure this league will surely go a notch higher, Shetty added fuel to the fire much to the delight of the gathering.”
Sangram Singh also applauded the energy level of the sport and said the fans can be hooked with this genre from across the globe. It is as fascinating as I believe Kabaddi is very demanding game in terms of stamina, muscle power and sleight of hand. That moment when it goes global is something that I could proudly say I am part of, Singh added.
Thrilling Clash between Indian Warriors and Gulf Gladiators
The special attraction of the evening was the more than serious sparring bout between the Indian Warriors and the Gulf Gladiators. The performance brought many hostilities and spectacular raids close to the audience and wonderful managerial actions are also noteworthy.
In the end the Gulf Gladiators won the game with a 55-42 win and giving them a comfortable 13-point advantage after a fiercely fought game. The winning team rejoiced their success and well-deserved victory against massive applause and ovation by Kabaddi fans.
Kabaddi’s Global Vision: Six Teams Set to Compete in February 2025
The upcoming international edition of the league will see talent from across the globe, with six diverse teams ready to battle for supremacy:
- Indian Warriors
- Lahore Knights
- American Titans
- United Spartans
- Gulf Gladiators
- Euro Vikings
Such an international lineup also questions the league’s aspirations to take kabaddi beyond Indian territory and deliver the sport to the world.
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Leaders Express Their Love for Kabaddi
The event was able to show that kabaddi doesn’t discriminate the culture of a person since everyone liked the sport. Mr. Tariq Al Habtoor, shared his admiration for kabaddi, stating:
“Kabaddi is a very interesting game and how effective it seems on the field is quite intriguing to me. I seriously appreciated watching it and would love to be part of it playing the game in future. It is fun and stimulating sport done in contact format which should be attempted. “
The following words I have underlined bear testimony to the fact that the sport is gradually assuming recognition both locally and internationally by athletes and the public respectively.
A Strong Foundation for the Future
The Real Kabaddi League International Edition in Dubai has laid the platform properly in order to bring the kabaddi sport in to the international arena. Thus, combining tradition with innovation, the organization expects coverage of the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Therefore, the Real Kabaddi League is well on its way towards becoming the bedrock for the promotion of the game of kabaddi across its international jurisdictions.
Though Dubai’s grand entry was spectacular and sought to truly honour the roots of the sport, it also served the purpose of setting foundation for further editions and the youthful and highly synergistic spirit of kabaddi was well depicted in the event.
A Promising Future for Kabaddi
The Real Kabaddi League’s inauguration experience in Dubai can be considered a landmark event in the history of the sport which is 400-years-old. With the preparation for the league toward the coming international version this February 2025, it has with it the purpose of enriching kabaddi to become a sport that unites culture and inspires athletes globally.
Though from moments like these, we only get those spine-chilling moments of live matches, celebrity endorsements, and International participation, the Dubai event has opened doors for Kabaddi to Global audience with every raid. As the Gulf Gladiators celebrated their victory, one thing became clear that Dubai is ready to introduce this dynamic game to the rest of the world.