The Indian women’s kabaddi team received a hero’s welcome on Friday, as the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) and JioStar congratulated the players on their Women’s Kabaddi World Cup victory.
India defeated Chinese Taipei 35-28 in the final to win back-to-back World Cup titles, demonstrating both the team’s superiority and the expanding financial worth of women’s kabaddi.
India went undefeated throughout the competition, winning the group stage and defeating Iran 33-21 in the semi-finals. Chinese Taipei, also undefeated in their group, advanced to the final after defeating hosts Bangladesh, indicating the sport’s growing competitiveness and worldwide reach.
Ishan Chatterjee, CEO – Sports, JioStar, commented, “This has been a remarkable year for women’s sports in India, the exceptional dominance of the women’s kabaddi team being another feather in our cap. Their success isn’t just about winning a trophy; it builds a talent pipeline for young girls across the country who now look at this team and say, ‘If they can do it, I can do it too.”
PKL League Chairman and Mashal Sports Business Head, Anupam Goswami, said, “The federation’s decision to revive the Women’s World Cup after 12 years highlights the sport’s upward trajectory. This trophy is an inflection point,” he said. He added that plans for a Women’s Kabaddi League (WKL) are being evaluated with a long-term business lens: “It must be built on strong player interest, a commercially sound model, and a sustainable ecosystem — not rushed execution. When we think about a Women’s Kabaddi League, rushing it isn’t the answer. We need to build it the right way — with players who truly want to be part of it, with a model that makes commercial sense, and with a structure that can support women’s kabaddi for the long run”
V. Tejeswini Bai, the team’s head coach, emphasised the months of high-performance planning and preparation that led to their podium finish. Skipper Ritu Negi emphasised the team’s collective depth, stating that the squad’s performance despite injuries illustrates India’s bench strength, which is crucial as stakeholders advocate for longer competitive calendars.
On the international front, AKFI President Vibhor Vineet Jain, said, “Chinese Taipei and Iran have changed the competitive landscape. This diversity strengthens kabaddi’s international market and reinforces our efforts to elevate the sport globally.”
The honour recognised not just India’s continued supremacy, but also the growing economic, developmental, and institutional support for women’s kabaddi, ushering in a potentially revolutionary growth phase for the sport in India and abroad.
