The World Super Kabaddi League (WSKL)has appointed renowned international kabaddi coach Ravindra Shetty as its Technical Director, marking a major step toward the league’s global debut in 2026.
With a vast experience spanning over two decades in national and international kabaddi, Shetty brings both technical expertise and visionary innovation to the role. As Technical Director, he will oversee the league’s technical and competition framework- including match structure, referee and coach development, and the introduction of modern, dynamic playing formats aimed at engaging global audiences.
Ravindra Shetty Kabaddi Career
Shetty is currently serving as Head Coach of the Thailand National Team, guiding the side through major international tournaments such as the Asian Games (Hangzhou, 2023), the Banglabandhu Cup (Bangladesh, 2024), and the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup (Dhaka, 2025). Earlier, he led the Karnataka State Team for nearly two decades (2001–2019) and coached India’s Junior Team at the 2023 Junior Kabaddi World Cup in Iran.
Widely regarded as an innovator in the sport, Shetty is credited with developing two modern kabaddi formats- Kabaddi Three Star and Kabaddi Super Five- both officially recognized by the South East Asian Kabaddi Federation (SEAKF) and now featured in the SEA Games. These fast-paced versions have helped make kabaddi more spectator-friendly and internationally accessible.
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“Ravindra Shetty brings a new dimension of technical leadership to the World Super Kabaddi League,” said Aishwarya Gautam, CEO of SJ Uplift Kabaddi. “His extensive experience and innovative mindset will be key to redefining kabaddi for a global stage.”
Shetty said, “The World Super Kabaddi League represents a new era for the sport- one that blends India’s rich heritage with a modern, international vision. I’m excited to help build a technically strong, competitive, and inclusive league that showcases kabaddi’s true potential to the world.”
Set for its international roll out in early 2026, with preparatory tournaments scheduled for Dubai in early 2025, the World Super Kabaddi League aims to take the sport from India’s heartlands to global arenas- proving that this ancient game still has plenty of new moves left to show.
