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Tag: Kanpur Warriors

  • Big moves, bigger money as UP Kabaddi heats up

    Big moves, bigger money as UP Kabaddi heats up

    MUMBAI: It wasn’t just tackles flying at the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) Season 2 player auction, wallets were too. Held in Noida, the high-voltage event saw 12 franchises flex their financial muscle, with bids totalling Rs 1.70 crore for a pool of 500 players.

    The newest entrant, Gazab Ghaziabad, made a “gazab” debut as the 12th team, joining heavyweights like Lucknow Lions, Kanpur Warriors, and Purvanchal Panthers. But the real drama unfolded at the bidding table. Vinay Tevathia topped the charts, bagging Rs 5.90 lakh from Aligarh Tigers, followed by Nitin Panwar at Rs 4.45 lakh for Ganga Kings of Mirzapur and Ashu Singh, snapped up by Noida Ninjas for Rs 4.35 lakh.

    The defending champions, Lucknow Lions, kept faith in their winning pride by retaining key players Arjun Deshwal, Vivek Chaudhary, Arpit Saroha, and Mohd Amaan.

    “UPKL has become a powerful platform for grassroots kabaddi talent and franchise value creation,” said SJ Uplift Kabaddi founder and director Sambhav Jain. “This season’s auction showcased strategic, disciplined bidding that has built balanced, competitive teams across the board.”

    The event also saw former IAS Awanish Kumar Awasthi, advisor to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, unveil the league’s broadcast partner for the next three seasons. Kabaddi star Rahul Chaudhary, UPKL’s brand ambassador, and senior officials from the state federation were among those present.

    Season 2 kicks off on 25 December 2025 in Noida, featuring 71 matches under the tagline “Apna bharat, apna khel – khel raha hai mera pradesh.” Matches will be broadcast live on Zee Sports and ZEE5, ensuring the spirit of kabaddi reaches every corner of the country.

    From blockbuster signings to fresh rivalries, UPKL’s latest season promises plenty of action, proving once again that in Uttar Pradesh, kabaddi isn’t just a game, it’s a full-contact celebration.

     

  • Kanpur Warriors joins Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League as newest franchise

    Kanpur Warriors joins Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League as newest franchise

    MUMBAI – Building on the resounding success of the debut season, Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL), SJ Uplift Kabaddi has announced the induction of a new franchise, Kanpur Warriors, for UPKL Season 2. The team owned and operated by BA Sports Club LLP, and led by entrepreneur Bhumika Vora, marks a major push to bring kabaddi into the cultural spotlight of one of Uttar Pradesh’s most passionate cities.

    Conceptualized, owned, and operated by SJ Uplift Kabaddi, UPKL continues to expand into kabaddi-strong belts across the state. With Kanpur’s long-standing kabaddi heritage, vibrant youth circuits, and growing appetite for competitive sport, Kanpur Warriors’ addition marks a strategic milestone in the league’s mission to deepen inclusivity and unearth local heroes.

    Talking about the announcement, Sambhav Jain, Director and Founder, SJ Uplift Kabaddi, said, “UPKL was always envisioned as a launchpad for grassroots athletes, transforming kabaddi from a gully sport into a structured professional ecosystem. Following the extraordinary success of  Season 1, welcoming new cities like Kanpur is not just growth; it is our evolution. Kanpur’s inclusion strengthens our vision to build a tiered ladder for athletes: from local leagues to UPKL and eventually national and global stages.”

    This milestone builds on the momentum of UPKL’s standout inaugural season, which reached over 30 million TV viewers as per BARC India and generated 300+ million digital impressions, driven largely by audiences from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

    Kanpur Warriors owner Bhumika Vora said, “Kanpur is a city full of fire, heritage, and underrepresented talent, and with Kanpur Warriors, we now have a platform to showcase, build, and grow. Through UPKL, we aim to break stereotypes, back our youth, and place kabaddi at the center of Kanpur’s sporting identity. The name ‘Warriors’ reflects not just athletic grit, but the spirit of our people. We are building a platform where kabaddi is a sport of choice, not just an alternative.”