Kabaddi is a sport that originated in India and entrenched in South Asian culture, took an ambitious international leap with the launch of the World Kabaddi League (WKL) in 2024. Later it was rebranded as Global Kabaddi League (GKL).
The league brought together teams from across the globe on a single stage, combining athleticism with entertainment and expanding the reach of the sports worldwide.
The Global Kabaddi League was a professional circle-style kabaddi league with teams from various countries. Numerous teams took part in the three editions of the competition that were staged.
In this article, we will have a look at the winners and teams from each season of the Global Kabaddi League.
First season: 2014
The league made its debut in 2014 as World Kabaddi League in which 8 international teams took part. The event was held across 14 cities in 4 different countries. The regular season ran through four months , and was followed by an elimination tournament that took place in Mohali, Punjab, India, in which the top four teams determined a champion.
Teams that featured in the first season are as follows.
- Khalsa Warriors
- Yo Yo Tigers
- Vancouver Lions
- Punjab Thunder
- Lahore Lions
- United Singhs
- California Eagles
- Royal Kings
Khalsa Warriors beat United Singhs to win the inaugural season.
Second season: 2016
The second season of the league was held in 2016 after a gap of two years. It featured 6 teams as mentioned below:
- California Eagles
- Khalsa Warriors
- Milwaukee Wolves
- Punjab Tigers
- Royal Kings USA
- United Singhs
California Eagles beat Royal Kings USA to win the final. The 2017 season was indefinitely postponed.
Also Read: Pro Kabaddi League 12: List Of All Sold Players
Third season: 2018
In a major overhaul, the league rebranded itself as the Global Kabaddi League and launched the new version in 2018. The only team to return for the third consecutive season was the California Eagles. The following teams featured in this season :
- Black Panthers
- Delhi Tigers
- California Eagles
- Haryana Lions
- Maple Leaf Canada
- Singh Warriors Punjab
The California Eagles defeated Haryana Lions to win the season.
