Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited, (SPN), has acquired the exclusive media rights for World Cup Kabaddi 2019, which will be held in Malacca, Malaysia from July 20 to July 28, 2019. The agreement with Malaysia Kabaddi Federation gives SPN the rights to televise the tournament on its sports channels across eight territories: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan; and will also make it available on their premium video on demand (VOD) service, SonyLIV.
The inaugural edition of the World Cup Kabaddi will see participation from the top kabaddi teams and players from across the world including India, Pakistan, England, Poland, USA, Canada, Mauritius, Egypt, Australia and Kenya amongst others. World Cup Kabaddi 2019 will feature 32 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams competing for the title of world champions. In fact, this will be the first time that teams from five continents of the world will feature in a Kabaddi tournament of this magnitude and this will position kabaddi as a global sport not only in India but also around the world.
Indian kabaddi players have always delivered excellent performances at international platforms and audiences can expect a world class experience from top players like Sunil Jaipal, Naveen Kumar, Sandeep Chillar and Suresh Kumar amongst others at the World Cup Kabaddi 2019. Kabaddi enthusiasts will also witness prominent international players like Simon Kibura from Kenya, Nahuel VIllamayor and Nahuel Lopez from Argentina, Filip Sesay from Poland to name a few who will represent their respective countries when they compete at the largest Kabaddi tournament that the world has ever seen.
Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer, Distribution and Head – Sports Business, Sony Pictures Networks India said “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. 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.”
Ashok Kumar Das, President World Kabaddi and President Kabaddi Europe said “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 sports of kabaddi.”
