New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is all set to expand in the next season with the addition of four new teams from Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

   The intended new states for PKL have been selected for their high affinity towards Kabaddi with massive fan bases, significant on-ground presence of the sport and potential commercial value to sponsors and advertisers. Both Haryana and Tamil Nadu contribute large number of players to Pro Kabaddi, as well as leading public sector teams in the country. Along with Uttar Pradesh, these states have a rich cultural tradition of highly popular local Kabaddi tournaments. The intrinsic popularity of Kabaddi in India has been most recently demonstrated in Gujarat where the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup has led to a huge surge in public following of Kabaddi. Speaking on the development, Chairman and CEO, Star India, Uday Shankar said, “Even for an optimist like me, the response we have seen for Kabaddi is surprising. Having seen its affinity in the country, it would be a disservice to the sport if we do not grow it further. All stakeholders have decided to come together to expand the league and given the pace at which this is growing, it might be just the first in a series of expansions in the coming years." International Kabaddi Federation Chief Janardan Singh Gehlot said,"Pro Kabaddi is a truly unique example of how a modern league has transformed the much loved but traditional Kabaddi into a modern sport. Star Sports as well as Mashal have created a magnificent example for the growth of India as multi-sport nation." Notably, the PKL became an instant hit with Indian sports fans in its very first season and has continued to grow from strength to strength in subsequent seasons. UNI KU SHK 1459