Victoria is gearing up for an exciting addition to its sporting calendar as the Pro Kabaddi League makes its way to Melbourne for the first time.
Premier Jacinta Allan, accompanied by Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, Indian Consul General Dr. Sushil Kumar, and AFL greats Campbell Brown and Josh Kennedy, announced today that tickets for the Pro Kabaddi League exhibition match will go on sale tomorrow.
The Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid will take place at John Cain Arena on December 28, in a thrilling double-header event that promises to bring Kabaddi fever to Australian soil.
The doubleheader will begin shortly after the third day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India concludes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, allowing fans to continue their sporting excitement by walking over to the John Cain Arena.
Premier Allan expressed her enthusiasm for bringing Kabaddi to Victoria, stating: “I am so proud to deliver on the promise I made in India to bring Kabaddi back home to Victoria.”
Walking across the road from the Boxing Day Test to the first-ever Australian Pro Kabaddi match – you can’t get better than that. India’s number one and number two sports will be side-by-side in the sporting capital of the world.”
The event kicks off with a curtain-raiser match between a team of Australian athletes, coached by former Hawthorn and Gold Coast star Campbell Brown, and an Indian team of Pro Kabaddi players.
Coach Brown expressed his excitement about being involved in the historic event, stating:
“Kabaddi has such a long-standing history in India, and it’s a privilege to be part of the magic here in Melbourne.”
The Consul General of India Dr Sushil Kumar welcomed the Victorian Government initiative of Kabaddi to Melbourne and organising a match at John Cain Arena.
He told The Australia Today that “Kabaddi is the second most popular sport in India, rooted deeply in the country’s culture and history. In recent years, Kabaddi has transitioned from a village pastime to a respected professional sport.”
“The recent visit of Premier Jacinta Allan to India and the announcement of showcasing PKL in Melbourne has opened a new chapter in our ever-growing relations.”
“Showcasing Kabaddi in Melbourne not only introduces this sport to a diverse sporting landscape but will also enhance the popularity of Kabaddi internationally and further strengthen India-Victoria cultural ties. Sports collaboration between our two countries presents an unparalleled opportunity for fostering ties through capacity building, and economic benefits, from event tourism to education and people-to-people links,” added CGI Kumar.
Former Sydney Swans skipper Josh Kennedy will captain the Australian side, which will feature other notable AFL greats. Following the curtain-raiser, the main event will see two Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) All-Star teams go head-to-head, featuring some of India’s biggest Kabaddi superstars.
Captain Kennedy shared his eagerness to represent Australia, saying: “The energy surrounding Kabaddi is contagious.
“I’m excited to be representing our country on the big stage. We’ll be training hard and look forward to challenging the PKL in Melbourne next month.”
Tickets for the Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid will be available from 12:00pm on November 12 through Ticketmaster. Ticket prices have been set to encourage family participation, with children’s tickets starting at $10 and adult tickets at $55.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, highlighted the event’s significance in attracting spectators and boosting the state’s economy.
“The Pro Kabaddi League has one of the fastest-growing fan bases around the globe, and we know people will flock to see this one-of-a-kind event – another major event keeping our state buzzing and boosting our local businesses and jobs.”
Kabaddi, India’s second-most popular sport after cricket, is a fast-paced, high-intensity game involving two teams of seven players. Teams battle to score points by raiding the opponent’s side of the field, tagging as many defenders as possible within a 30-second raid. The sport is played over 40 minutes and requires agility, strategy, and teamwork, making it thrilling for spectators. Since its launch in 2014, the Pro Kabaddi League has grown rapidly, now boasting nearly 300 million viewers annually in India.
Victoria is the perfect place to host the first Pro Kabaddi exhibition match outside India, with its significant Indian community and growing interest in multicultural sports. Victoria is home to almost 260,000 Indian-born residents, and more than 370,000 Victorians have Indian ancestry.
The state is also Australia’s top destination for Indian visitors, with over 187,000 Indian tourists visiting Victoria in the year ending June 2024, spending more than $480 million. Kabaddi’s arrival in Melbourne is set to enhance this connection, bringing India’s beloved sport to Australia’s sporting capital.
Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements also spoke about the appeal of the upcoming Kabaddi matches, adding:
“Victoria is the top destination for Indian visitors, and it’s easy to see why – the Pro Kabaddi matches are part of a blockbuster summer of events, including Indian folk sensation Maithili Thakur at ALWAYS LIVE, Australia vs India at the Boxing Day Test, the Australian Open, and the NGV’s Summer Exhibition.”
Kabaddi’s arrival in Melbourne is set to add another iconic event to Victoria’s summer lineup, promising an unforgettable experience for sports fans across the state. With Pro Kabaddi’s fast-paced, adrenaline-filled action, Victorians are in for a sporting spectacle like no other.
Tickets for the Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid will be available through Ticketmaster starting tomorrow.
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