World Cup Kabaddi 2019 to air on Sony Pictures Networks India
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 25 June 2019

Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) has won the rights to broadcast and stream the inaugural World Cup Kabaddi across South Asia, from 20 to 28 July 2019.

Being hosted by the Malaysia Kabaddi Federation in Malacca, the event will be available on SPNI TV channels and its video-on-demand (VOD) service SonyLIV in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan.

Originally an Indian game, next month’s international tournament will feature 32 men’s and 16 women’s kabaddi teams and players from across the world including India, Pakistan, England, Poland, USA, Canada, Mauritius, Egypt, Australia and Kenya.

Top players include India’s Sunil Jaipal, Naveen Kumar, Sandeep Chillar and Suresh Kumar, along with Simon Kibura from Kenya, Nahuel Villamayor and Nahuel Lopez from Argentina, and Filip Sesay from Poland.

“The addition of World Cup Kabaddi 2019 to our portfolio augments the positioning of the sports cluster of Sony Pictures Networks India as a global multi-sporting arena with the best international content,” said SPNI chief revenue officer, distribution and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul.

“We have always worked towards building a multi-sport viewing culture in India with our diverse sports portfolio of international tournaments and marquee events. Kabaddi is one of the more popular sports in the country and we are delighted to be the official broadcasters of an international tournament that positions kabaddi as a mainstream international sport.”

World Kabaddi president and Kabaddi Europe president Ashok Kumar Das added: “The World Cup Kabaddi is the showcase event for the World Kabaddi, formed just over a year ago. Of the 50 odd members that we have, more than 30 members are participating in the tournament, making it the biggest ever international kabaddi tournament ever held. We would like to thank Sony Pictures Networks India for believing in us and joining us in promoting the sport of kabaddi”.