India’s new Pro Kabaddi League debuted on
July 26 and drew a staggering 22 million viewers.
According to a DNA report, that’s 10 times the
viewership in India of the 2014 FIFA World Cup’s
opening match, Brazil versus Croatia.
“Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine
kabaddi would make such an impact on the
Indian audience,” said Anup Kumar, skipper of
Mumbai’s team, U
Mumba. “You feel
so proud to have the Pro Kabaddi League
name taken in the same breath like the IPL.”
The eight-team league, with names such as
the Jaipur Pink Pathers, Patna Pirates and Telugu
Titans, was expected to conclude its inaugural
season on Aug. 31.
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