Starting at 7:30 p.m., JioHotstar will stream the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 live on the Star Sports Network.

PKL Today Match:  The Wheeling Happiness Foundation, led by Padma Shree Dr. Deepa Malik, organized a para-athlete kabaddi exhibition match in collaboration with the Capri Sports Foundation at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur. The event was an incredible celebration of tenacity.

Two passionate teams, Para Dhakad and Para Warriorz, participated in the game. These teams were made up of para-athletes with a variety of infirmities, including polio survivors with weak limbs, arm amputees (both above the wrists and elbows), and leg amputees (both above and below the knee). Twelve players from each squad demonstrated exceptional skill on the mat.

Players from the Bengal Warriorz of the Pro Kabaddi League attended to offer their support for the para-athletes, adding to the significance of the day and turning it into a touching demonstration of solidarity and sportsmanship.

“It was a very nice match to watch, and I consider them the real heroes,” said Bengal Warriorz captain Devank Dalal, who was inspired. They face numerous challenges in their lives. We relax if we have a minor injury, yet they are playing so well and working hard in spite of their difficulties. Thus, it greatly inspires us kabaddi players.

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The event was truly momentous for the para-athletes themselves. “I used to participate in general able-bodied para-athletics until Rajesh sir (coach) and Deepa ma’am worked hard to bring up para-kabaddi in our country,” said Vikas Kumar, a Para Athletics 100m Silver Medalist at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland, reflecting on the progress made in the sport.

Many of my para-athletes are now also involved in para-kabaddi. Playing on such a large platform now makes me feel really proud, especially since our para-athletes are being treated with the same respect as athletes with normal bodies,” he continued.

The significance of such exposure was emphasized by coach Rajesh Kumar, a 2010 Asian Para Games medallist and recipient of the Bhim Award: “We thank the PKL for this opportunity that has been provided for our players.” Our para-kabaddi players will have a new identity as a result. Additionally, it will serve as inspiration for the athletes who are watching us play from the comfort of their own homes.

Our para-kabaddi players have a very bright future, which is now even more so thanks to the PKL. It is our hope that the players from today’s two teams will demonstrate their abilities in the future,” he continued.

Playing on the actual PKL mat was a dream come true for the athletes. “I have been playing para-kabaddi since 2018,” said Sachin Tandel, the 2021 Para-kabaddi gold medallist from Sri Lanka. And I’m really happy of the chance we had today to compete on the PKL mat and represent para-athletes on this platform.