In an Australian first, Premier Jacinta Allan has announced a historic collaboration between the Victorian Government and the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) to explore bringing a PKL showcase event to Melbourne within the next 18 months.
This partnership marks an exciting addition to Victoria’s growing list of major events and is poised to strengthen cultural ties between India and Australia.
The announcement was made in New Delhi, where Premier Allan met with key figures from the PKL, including Sanjog Gupta, Head of Sports at Disney Star, and Anupam Goswami, League Commissioner of PKL.
The move will give Melbourne the opportunity to host a sport that has captivated millions in India, being second only to cricket in popularity.
The Premier stated,
“As the sporting capital of Australia, we’re proud to be partnering with the Pro Kabaddi League to explore bringing a PKL Showcase in Melbourne, with the sport attracting one of the fastest growing fan bases around the globe.”
Kabaddi is a high-octane, contact sport that requires strategy, agility, and teamwork. The PKL, since its inception in 2014, has seen immense growth, drawing nearly 300 million viewers annually in India. Bringing this sport to Melbourne is expected to excite the city’s large Indian population and promote deeper cultural exchange.
Victoria is home to the largest Indian population in Australia, making it a natural destination for such an event.
Steve Dimopoulos, Victoria’s Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events, emphasised the significance of this partnership in celebrating diversity, stating,
“Working with the PKL is part of the state’s commitment to celebrate and support multicultural communities.”
Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements expressed excitement, saying the partnership with PKL will strengthen the state’s growing relationship with the Indian visitor economy, which generated $452 million in revenue from nearly 180,000 Indian visitors in the year ending March 2024.
This collaboration is part of the broader “India Strategy” by the Victorian Government, aimed at enhancing cultural and economic ties with India, a key overseas market for the state.
With Victoria’s reputation as a global sports hub, the potential Kabaddi showcase is expected to attract both local and international fans, further solidifying Melbourne’s position on the world stage for major sporting events.
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