Not IPL or KKR! This Franchise League and Team win Best of the Year awards for 2024

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Amid the roaring sounds of the upcoming Indian Premier League season, a different franchise league has been bestowed with the Best Sports League accolade recently.

Although IPL is by far the most popular tournament in the country, various other events are also gaining swift relevance among the masses.

One of the sport which has grown in leaps and bounds in the past decade or so is Kabaddi. The introduction of Pro Kabaddi League has revolutionized the landscape of the sport and it has spread its wings across the corners of India.

Amid this, the Pro Kabaddi League, which has entered its 11th season this year, has been announced as the Best Sports League of 2024 at the CII Sports Business awards.

"Mashal Sports, the organizers of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), are proud to announce that PKL has been honoured with the prestigious 'Best Sports League of the Year' award at CII Sports Business Awards 2024," a statement from PKL read.

The award ceremony was held as part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Score Card 2024 event in New Delhi on Friday, October 18, the same day when PKL's newest season started.

The CII Sports Business Awards, a groundbreaking initiative, recognizes excellence and innovation in the sports business sector. Pro Kabaddi League's win in this highly competitive category underscores its impact on the Indian sports landscape and its contribution to the growth of kabaddi as a sport.

Mr. Anupam Goswami, League Commissioner of Pro Kabaddi League, expressed his excitement about the award, "We are thrilled to receive this recognition from CII. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in making Pro Kabaddi League a resounding success since its inception in 2014. As we look to the future, we are committed to taking PKL to even greater heights, further popularizing kabaddi and contributing to India's vision of becoming a global sporting powerhouse."

Charu Sharma, Director of the Pro Kabaddi League, added by saying, "India's unique heritage sport - which went international many decades ago - has catapulted into a highly visible, reputed, professional league 10 years ago thanks to the PKL. The story of Kabaddi is truly fascinating. I am delighted that India's premier corporate agency, the CII, has appreciated the extreme attention Mashal Sports showers on good governance, earning the PKL respect and sustainability. Winning CII's award for 'Best Sports League of the Year'at the Sports Business Awards, is a truly gratifying recognition of all the hard work contributed by the entire Mashal Sports team, led by Anupam Goswami,".

The award comes at a time when India is making significant strides in the sports sector, with initiative like the draft National Sports Policy 2024. Pro Kabaddi League's success aligns perfectly with the nation's goal of creating a vibrant and inclusive sports ecosystem, while also taking the sport to an Olympic level.

Puneri Paltan win Sports Franchise of the Year

In addition to PKL's success, defending champions Puneri Paltan, who are one of the league's prominent teams, was also recognized at the CII Sports Business Awards, winning the 'Sports Franchise of the Year' award. The franchise's grassroots initiative, Yuva Paltan, has been instrumental in developing young kabaddi stars like Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat, who have become key players for the team and have represented India internationally.

(with inputs from agency)