23^rd July 2025; Gurugram, India: Following the successful debut of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) 2024, SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd, the creator and operator of UPKL, has been valued at ₹238 crores. This milestone reflects the league’s rapid traction in the Indian sports ecosystem and underscores the growing commercial and cultural value of regional sports IPs in India and globally.

SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd is pioneering a new era in Indian sports by building franchise-based, regionally anchored leagues with national scale and global aspirations. The inaugural UPKL season saw participation from eight teams and reported strong performance across audience engagement, broadcast reach, and digital traction.

According to BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council India), UPKL Season 1 achieved a reach of over 30 million television viewers and 300 million digital impressions, with significant viewership emerging from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Broadcast partners included Sony Sports Network (Sports Ten 1 & Ten 3), DD Sports, and FanCode, establishing a strong multi-platform footprint.

Sambhav Jain, Director and Founder, SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd, said, “This valuation is a reflection of the growing popularity and resonance of our leagues, especially UPKL. It reaffirms our belief in the power of grassroots sports and the untapped potential of regional talent. The response from fans, franchises, and brands has been overwhelming. Building on the success, our vision is to build a sustainable ecosystem where athletes, fans, and brands come together to celebrate the spirit of Indian sports. As the sport continues to evolve, we are committed to building kabaddi into a globally recognized, professionally managed sport that India can proudly export.”

UPKL’s successful debut, its soaring valuation, and deep resonance across the world. UPKL is not just a sports league; it’s a movement redefining the future of Indian sports. As it continues to scale, it is set to become a powerhouse platform for regional pride and further deepen the company’s position as a leading sports IP innovator.

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June 30, 2025, National: SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd, the exclusive rights holder for both the World Super Kabaddi League (WSKL) and the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL), proudly announces the launch of the inaugural edition of WSKL—a groundbreaking step towards making Kabaddi a truly global sport. With the active engagement of nearly 30 countries and formal confirmation from 20 national federations the inaugural season is tentatively scheduled for February–March 2026 and will be hosted in Dubai, a strategic location chosen to maximize international exposure and fan accessibility.

Following the success of UPKL, under the banner ‘Apna Bharat, Apna Khel’, which focused on nurturing talent within India, WSKL represents a bold new chapter. Unlike UPKL, which was largely India-centric, WSKL has been conceptualized as an international platform with a singular mission: to globalize Kabaddi and pave the way for its inclusion in the Olympic Games.  WSKL is backed by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) and holds commercial rights through the South Asian Kabaddi Federation, positioning it as a credible and globally supported league.

WSKL will adopt a franchise-based model featuring eight teams in its inaugural season. Setting itself apart from existing leagues, each team will showcase a strong international presence alongside Indian talent, reflecting the league’s commitment to building a truly global Kabaddi ecosystem.

WSKL is fully owned and operated by SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd and has been founded by Sambhav Jain, a passionate advocate for the growth and modernization of Kabaddi. Speaking about this ambitious new venture, Sambhav Jain, Director and Founder, SJ uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd said, “Kabaddi has always deserved a larger stage not just for India but for the global sporting community. With WSKL, our goal is to reimagine the sport for a global audience, unlock international talent, and take decisive steps towards Olympic recognition. The success of UPKL gave us the foundation, but WSKL is about creating a Kabaddi league that belongs to the world. We are building this with a vision for the next decade, not just the next season.”

The league has committed a total player purse of ₹48 crore across its eight franchises, underscoring the strong investment appetite for this new sports property. WSKL has already secured interest and participation from prominent Kabaddi nations including South Korea, Iran, Thailand, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, and the United States, with discussions underway to onboard additional countries.

The World Super Kabaddi League is designed not as a seasonal tournament but as an evolving global sports property. SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd is committed to building WSKL as a 12-month, year-round Kabaddi ecosystem, creating opportunities for sustained fan engagement, off-season activities, and long-term player development.

With WSKL, SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd is setting a new benchmark for Kabaddi, creating an international movement that aspires to bring the sport to a much larger and more diverse audience.

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