Kabaddi set for greater global push with World Cup and women’s league plans

HYDERABAD Following its first executive committee meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday, the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) announced that it is working on plans to stage a Kabaddi World Cup and launch a women’s league in the near future. The franchise-based women’s league will follow the ProKabaddi League model, with IKF targeting eight teams for the inaugural edition. On the other hand, countries keen on hosting the World Cup have been invited to submit proposals for the same. The bigger goal, IKF president Kasani Gnaneshwar said, is the sport’s inclusion in the 2036 Olympic Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games.