Visakhapatnam, August 28 (HS): The wait is finally over – Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 is set to ignite the sporting spirit of the nation, promising to be the most thrilling and action-packed edition yet. Marking a grand comeback after seven years, the league will kick off in the picturesque port city of Visakhapatnam on August 29 – India’s National Sports Day.
The season opener will see a high-voltage clash between home favorites Telugu Titans and a revitalized Tamil Thalaivas, followed by an electric encounter between Bengaluru Bulls and Puneri Paltan, both to be played at the renowned Viswanath Sports Club.
The season schedule spans four key cities – Visakhapatnam (Aug 29 – Sept 11), Jaipur (Sept 12 – Sept 28), Chennai (Sept 29 – Oct 10), and New Delhi (Oct 11 – Oct 23). The dates and venue for the playoffs and grand finale will be announced soon.
Ahead of the season, a glittering launch event was hosted at Novotel Hotel, Varun Beach, attended by league chairman Anupam Goswami, Telugu Titans skipper Vijay Malik, Tamil Thalaivas’ talisman Pawan Sehrawat, along with the captains of the other 10 participating teams.
Speaking at the unveiling, Goswami said, “We are thrilled to bring back another spectacular season of the Pro Kabaddi League. With a brand-new format designed to bring fans closer to the action, every single contest will carry more weight this year. The excitement of returning to Visakhapatnam on the eve of National Sports Day makes this moment truly special.”
Telugu Titans’ captain Vijay Malik shared his enthusiasm: “Season 12 promises to be intensely competitive. Every side has come prepared, and no match will be taken lightly. This will truly be the toughest and most entertaining season yet.”
Echoing the sentiment, Tamil Thalaivas skipper Pawan Sehrawat said, “Starting the season against the home team adds its own thrill. The fans will be rooting for them, but that only motivates us to put in extra effort. Early matches often set the tone for the season, and we’re ready to put on a spectacular show.”
Adding to the patriotic fervor, three serving defence personnel – Devank (Indian Army, Bengal Warriors), Naveen (Indian Air Force, Haryana Steelers), and Bharat (Indian Navy, Telugu Titans) – participated in a special ceremonial event aboard the historic INS Kursura Submarine Museum.
The stage is all set in Visakhapatnam, where Kabaddi fever returns with full force tomorrow, on National Sports Day.
—————
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
