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Radha Kapoor, owner of Kabaddi team Dabang Delhi, believes that even if the returns on investments in this business take time the Pro Kabaddi League is a bold new step to promote a sport that’s true to India.
Kapoor, daughter of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor, owns DoIT Creations and forayed into sports under DoIT Sports Management. She established the Indian School of Design in collaboration with Parsons’ The New School of Design, New York, and her company also acquired a strategic stake in Business World magazine. The DoIT Sports Management is also looking at other sports investments.
Talking about the reasons behind owning a Kabaddi League, she said, “We were seeking an opportunity to invest in the sports industry. The youth of today are playing all kinds of sports, though they are heavily influenced by the West. We haven’t had the opportunity to promote our home-grown sports. Often people shy away from taking pride in being Indian. So this was a good opportunity to invest in an Indian sport.”
“It can come as a surprise but 33 countries play Kabaddi and we need to take it to 50 for it to be inducted in Olympics,” she added. Dabang Delhi team has Indian players as well as international players from Japan, Korea and West Asia. Asked when the team is going to break even, Kapoor said, “It will take some time. I am sure a lot of people have doubts but that is where the opportunity lies. See what the US has done with baseball and American football.”
Better results Kapoor fondly remembers the time when she played Kabaddi as a kid. She said that the initial viewership numbers are encouraging. “I don’t see a reason why women should stay behind. This sport is played in a lot of districts and clubs, and women players are equally good and have won medals. There are discussions going on and we are looking to get them to come and watch the matches,” she said. After the first season of the league ends, owners of Dabang Delhi will look at identifying women kabaddi players from the grassroots and coaching them. Activities in schools and colleges are also in the pipeline.
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