There has always been a strong connection between kabaddi and the people of India for several years. However, the sport only gained prominence and popularity since the advent of the Pro Kabaddi League in 2014. The founders of Mashal Sports implemented innovative rules such as 30-second raids, Do-or-Die raids, super raids and super tackles to make the game engaging for sports fans in India. Furthermore, the broadcasters of the league packaged the sport brilliantly to attract millions of followers.

Also Read: PRO KABADDI LEAGUE RETURNS TO 12-CITY CARAVAN FORMAT: SEASON 10 SET TO BEGIN ON 2ND DECEMBER 2023

On the cusp of a historic milestone of completing 10 editions, the Pro Kabaddi League kicked off Season 10 in grand style on the Akshar River Cruise in Ahmedabad on Friday. The Head Sports Leagues, Mashal Sports and League Commissioner, Pro Kabaddi League Mr. Anupam Goswami launched the special season along with PKL Season 9-winning team Captain Sunil Kumar (Jaipur Pink Panthers) and the Season 10 opening game Captains Pawan Sehrawat (Telugu Titans) and Fazel Atrachali (Gujarat Giants).

Speaking during the press conference as the cruise took a round of the Sabarmati River, Mr. Anupam Goswami expressed, "Going back to the 12-city caravan format is the landmark moment for Season 10. We will be reactivating at least nine geographies, which have not seen the Pro Kabaddi League in their own region since 2019. Hosting the league in 12 cities helps the league to form a strong connection with the communities in each of the franchise's home regions."

The Gujarat Giants will be going up against Telugu Titans in the blockbuster opening game of PKL Season 10 at the EKA Arena by TransStadia on Saturday. The Titans' Captain and the most expensive player in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League - Pawan Sehrawat expressed that his team is all geared up for the first game, "I am very excited to step on the mat. It was tough for me to miss out on the last season. However, I have saved up a lot of energy for the upcoming season and I am also eager to face Fazel in the first game. Our players have trained very well for the season through the training camp. We are ready for our first game against Gujarat Giants."

Meanwhile, the most expensive defender in the Pro Kabaddi League and Gujarat Giants' Captain Fazel Atrachali said, "I am very excited to be a part of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10. This is the best kabaddi tournament in the world. We can't wait to start the season. I am very happy to play for Gujarat Giants this year. We have a lot of young talents and a good coach. I am looking forward to a good season."

The Jaipur Pink Panthers clinched the Pro Kabaddi League trophy after defeating Puneri Paltan in the final last season. Speaking about going into Season 10 as the defending champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers Captain Sunil Kumar expressed, "The trophy belongs to us at the moment and we have to ensure that it stays with us. We have trained even harder for this season. We implemented a great player combination last year and we'll continue to use the same combination this year. We've prepared quite well for the tournament."

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 Ahmedabad leg will be played from 2-7 December 2023. Thereafter, the league will move in the following order of venues - Bengaluru (8-13 December 2023), Pune (15-20 December 2023), Chennai (22-27 December 2023), Noida (29 December 2023 - 3 January 2024), Mumbai (5-10 January 2024), Jaipur (12-17 January 2024), Hyderabad (19-24 January 2024), Patna (26-31 January 2024), Delhi (2-7 February 2024), Kolkata (9-14 February 2024) and Panchkula (16-21 February).

Season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and for free on Disney+ Hotstar.

For all live updates on Pro Kabaddi league, log on to www.prokabaddi.com, download the Official Pro Kabaddi app or follow @prokabaddi on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Threads. 

The schedule of the 12th season of Pro Kabaddi League has been announced. The PKL 2025 is scheduled to begin on 29 August and the final will be played on 23 October. All the matches of PKL-12 will be played in a total of 4 cities, which include Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, Chennai and Delhi.

These four cities will host a total of 108 league stage matches. The tournament opener will be played between Telugu Titans vs Tamil Thalaivas at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Vizag. Vizag had earlier hosted matches in seasons 1, 3 and 6. Now after seven years, the city is going to welcome Kabaddi again.

Also Read: Who is the Best Raider in PKL history?

Haryana to start their campaign against Bengal Warriorz

Defending champions Haryana Steelers will start their title defence against the Bengal Warriorz on August 31.

The Haryana Steelers won PKL season 11, claiming their first-ever Pro Kabaddi League title by defeating the Patna Pirates 32-23 in the final held on December 29, 2024.

The tournament to span across four major cities

Throughout the league stage, matches will be played as double-headers, with the first game at 8:00 PM IST and the second at 9:00 PM IST. The action is scheduled to span across four major cities: Vizag, Jaipur, Chennai, and Delhi, ensuring fans across different regions get to witness live kabaddi excitement.

The season will continue for two months, with the final likely to be held in the first week of November 2025, although the exact date for the final is yet to be officially confirmed.

PKL 2025 Streaming Details

Pro Kabaddi Season 12 will be broadcasted live on Star Sports Network. Apart from this, live streaming of the matches will also be available on Jio HotStar app and website.

Also Read: Top 5 Kabaddi Rule Changes in Recent Years

PKL 2025 Full Schedule

Kabaddi, especially the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), is known for its intense raiding. Raiders are the architects of points in this fast-paced sport. Every PKL season brings new heroes, and the question about the best raider in the history of the tournament always sparks heated discussions.

Therefore, it is now time to explore the list of incredibly talented raiders who dominated this stage. Who is the best raider in PKL history? Let's find out.

1. Pardeep Narwal (Left Raider)

• Raid Points: 1801
• Matches: 190
• Teams played for in PKL: Patna Pirates, UP Yoddhas, Bengaluru Bulls

Pardeep Narwal tops the chart with 1801 raid points, which earns him the title of best raider in PKL history. He is one of the greatest in the history of Kabbadi and holds multiple raiding records.

Known as the "Dubki King," his signature "dubki" move, where he ducks under defenders, has earned him countless points. His ability to change the course of a game has led the Patna Pirates to 3 straight titles in the Pro Kabaddi League.

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2. Maninder Singh (Raider)

• Raid Points: 1528
• Matches: 158
• Teams played for in PKL: Jaipur Pink Panthers, Bengal Warriors

The captain and lead raider of Bengal Warriors, Maninder Singh holds the second position with 1528 points. He is one of the most reliable and consistent sources of the team. He is particularly effective with hand touches and running hand touches.

Maninder led Bengal Warriors to their maiden PKL trophy in 2019, which speaks volumes about his skill and stature.

3. Pawan Kumar Sehrawat (Raider)

• Raid Points: 1318
• Matches: 139
• Teams played for in PKL: Bengaluru Bulls, Gujarat Giants, Telugu Titans, Tamil Thalaivas

The "Hi-Flyer," Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, has scored 1318 points, which is the third-highest in the list. He had an amazing journey in this tournament and achieved most raid points in 3 consecutive seasons (2018, 2019, 2021).

Pawan's aggressive approach and ability to inflict all-out attacks quickly have made him one of the most feared raiders. He also became the most expensive player in PKL history when he got picked up by Tamil Thalaivas for ₹2.26 crores in the 9th season.

Read Also: Timeline: India’s rise at the Olympics

4. Arjun Deshwal (Raider)

• Raid Points: 1174
• Matches: 114
• Teams played for in PKL: Jaipur Pink Panthers

Arjun Deshwal has rapidly risen at the top and clinched the title of "Raid Machine," with 1174 points and brilliant techniques. He was a key part of the Jaipur Pink Panthers in their 2022 victory.

Deshwal's ability to earn crucial points, especially in do-or-die raids, has made him this successful. He was also part of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

5. Naveen Kumar (Raider)

• Raid Points: 1102
• Matches: 107
• Teams played for in PKL: Dabang Delhi K.C

Naveen Kumar is one of the youngest and fastest raiders in the league. With 1102 raid points, he has consistently achieved Super 10s and holds the record for most consecutive Super 10s in the tournament's history.

His quick movement, combined with hand and toe touches, makes him a nightmare for the opposition.

Read Also: Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history?

6. Rahul Chaudhari (Raider)

• Raid Points: 1045
• Matches: 154
• Teams played for in PKL: Telugu Titans, Tamil Thalaivas, Jaipur Pink Panthers

The former Kabaddi star, Rahul Chaudhari, had a phenomenal PKL journey, having scored 1045 points in 154 matches. After starting off as a defender, his transformation into one of the most successful raiders was fascinating.

Rahul was the first player to reach 500, 700, and 800 points, and still stands strong in the top 10 after his retirement.

7. Sachin Tanwar (Raider)

• Raid Points: 1034
• Matches: 145
• Teams played for in PKL: Gujarat Giants, Patna Pirates, Tamil Thalaivas

Sachin Tanwar is a versatile raider known for his call presence and under-pressure performance. Since his 2017 debut, he has scored 1034 total points, which is quite impressive and comes in handy for the teams he represents.

He has the ability to change and adapt his style to different match situations, which makes him a key raiding option.

8. Deepak Niwas Hooda (All-Rounder)

• Raid Points: 1020
• Matches: 157
• Teams played for in PKL: Telugu Titans, Puneri Paltan, Jaipur Pink Panthers

Deepak Niwas Hooda is the 8th player to have 1000+ raid points in PKL history. While listed as an all-rounder, his 1020 points in 157 matches show how capable he is in raiding. 

Hooda is known for his experience, leadership, and has a variety of medal records in Kabaddi tournaments (2016 Kabaddi World Cup, 2018 Asian Games, South Asian Games, etc).

Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, popularly known as 'Mondo' Duplantis, has broken the men's pole vaulting World Record for the 11th time, a record which he previously set himself.

The 25-year-old Swedish pole vaulter improved his own men's pole vault world record to 6.27m at the All Star Perche event in Clermont-Ferrand, France on February 28th, 2025.

MONDO DUPLANTIS BREAKS THE POLE VAULT WORLD RECORD AGAIN!

🐐6.27m clearance indoors🐐pic.twitter.com/iIx1UXhC3I

— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) February 28, 2025

This marks the 11th time Duplantis has broken the world record in his career, first achieving it in February 2020 with a height of 6.17m.

The two-time World Champion and Olympic winner secured his victory at the All Star Perche event with a height of 6.02m. Following that, Duplantis improved the clearance that he set in August 2024, by one centimeter.

"I just felt really good. What can I say, I came here to do it. I put everything in place to do it. The run-up worked really well. I just did it," Duplantis stated to the reporters after setting the world record.

However, in this article, Sportz Point will explore all the 11 times Mono Duplantis broke the World Record.

Mondo Duplantis: 11 times the pole vaulter broke the World Record

1. 2020 - 6.17m

Back in 2014, France's legendary pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie marked the world record with a clearance of 6.16m.

The record nearly stood for six years, until the 20-year-old Mondo Duplantis broke the previous record with a 6.17m height at the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland.

This was the first time Duplantis broke the world record, previously breaking the 10-year age group record with a jump of 3.86m in 2010.

2. 2020 - 6.18m

Only a week after creating the World Record in Poland, Duplantis bettered his record with a 6.18m jump at the Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow, Scotland.

Duplantis stated the following after setting new record in Glasgow;

It’s the best little split second that could ever be,

Everything builds up to that one tiny little moment. That little free-fall is a magical moment.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Mondo Duplantis (@mondo_duplantis)

3. 2022 - 6.19m

Mondo Duplantis earned the crown as an Olympic Champion, following his maiden gold medal win in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

However, the Swedish athlete surpassed his own record for the third time in 2022, after securing a 6.19m jump in the Belgrade Indoor Meeting, Serbia.

WR!!!! #6.19 #borntofly pic.twitter.com/UghhIVutxv

— Mondo Duplantis (@mondohoss600) March 7, 2022

4. 2022 - 6.20m

Breaking his own world record in a span of 15 days, Duplantis again stunned the world in 2022. 

Following his 6.19m jump in the Belgrade Indoor Meeting on 7 March 2022, Duplantis promised "something higher" in the upcoming world championship. 

He kept his word in the best possible way, securing a 6.20m jump at the world indoor championships on 21 March 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. 

5. 2022 - 6.21m

Mondo Duplantis clinched his first-ever outdoor world title on 24 March 2022 at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

Duplantis, again improved his own record and set his third world record in 2022, soaring over 6.21m, and breaking the world record for the first time in the outdoors.

Along with this record, Duplantis also surpassed Sergey Bubka, one of the greatest pole vaulters of all-time, for career six metre-plus clearances. Bubka's 46-time record was overshadowed by Duplantis' 48 after this championship. 

6. 2023 - 6.22m 

On 25th February 2023, Mondo Duplantis broke his own record, clearing 6.21m to win the All Star Perche 2023 event in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where he again has broken the record in 2025.

Duplantis was congratulated by Renaud Lavillenie after the win, whose record he first broke back in 2020 and who is a co-founder of the All Star Perche event.

Mondo Duplantis ends his indoor season with brilliant last attempt at 6.22m WR in Clermont-Ferrand, France! https://t.co/1qVXmHuOhS , #mondoduplantis, #polevault, #swedishathletics, #europeanathletics, @mondohoss600, @PUMA, @euroathletics, #PUMA, #PUMArunning, pic.twitter.com/HVAJ9AmENX

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) February 27, 2023

7. 2023 - 6.23m 

Duplantis broke the world record for the seventh time following his 6.23m clearance to win the 2023 Diamond League Final in Eugene on 17 September 2023.

🚨 WORLD RECORD🚨@mondohoss600 clears 6.23m at the first attempt to claim his 3rd successive #DiamondLeague title 🤯

Get that man a brewski! 🍺#DLFinal#EugeneDL 🇺🇸
📸 @GorczynskaMarta pic.twitter.com/aUjbuFPQjp

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) September 17, 2023

8. 2024 - 6.24m (Xiamen, China)

Duplantis opened his 2024 season in style, soaring 6.24m to set the world record for outdoors at the Diamond League event in Xiamen, China.

The Swedish pole vaulter registered the highest clearance in history to add 1cm to the record he had set in Eugene, USA in 2023.

💬"It was my first time jumping here in China, and I was really just trying to enjoy the moment. It's people that I really want to show what I can do."
- Says #Duplantis after elevating his world pole vault record to a new high of 6.24m at Diamond League in Xiamen. #XiamenDL pic.twitter.com/Uqt8g3x8mb

— CGTN Sports Scene (@CGTNSportsScene) April 21, 2024

9. 2024 - 6.25m (Paris, France)

Duplantis retained his Olympic Gold medal title in the 2024 Paris Olympics, breaking his own record to register a 6.25m clearance. 

The 25-year-old became the first athlete to retain the pole vault title, since American pole vaulter Bob Richards achieved the remarkable feat in 1952 and 1956.

Mondo Duplantis is out of this world! ✈️🌍

Listen to the roar inside the Stade de France as he set a new world record of 6.25m. 🔥#Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/0bxzWecxi4

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 15, 2024

10. 2024 - 6.26m (Silesia, Poland)

For the second time in his career, Mondo Duplantis shattered the world record three times in a calendar year in 2024.

Following the record he set at the Paris Olympics 2024, Duplantis bettered it by 1cm to soar over 6.26m at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on 25 August 2024.

He also broke his world record for the third time in the outdoor season and for the tenth time in his career.

11. 2025 - 6.27m (Clermont-Ferrand, France)

As the latest world record, Mondo Duplantis has broken the world record for a record 11th time in his career, to set a new high of 6.27m on 28 February 2025 at the All-Star Perche Event in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Here is the moment Mondo Duplantis broke the World Record in the Pole Vault with 6.27m in France!!🤯🤯

11 World Records so far in his career!! A LEGEND.pic.twitter.com/WCXfr1qe6I

— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) February 28, 2025

Beatrice Chebet, the double Olympic gold medallist from Paris 2024, ran 13:54 in the Cursa dels Nassos, Barcelona, becoming the first woman to run 5km under 14 minutes on the last day of 2024. 

The distance runner from Kenya had set a record of 14:13 exactly 12 months ago in the Cursa dels Nassos. But, this time, she broke her own record as she clocked 13:54 on Tuesday (31st December). 

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Chebet started the run at the same time as the men's and finished only 26 seconds behind the men's winner Matthew Kipkoech, another Kenyan distance runner. Chebet finished 14th overall.

Meantime, women's runner-up 19-year-old Ethiopian Medina Eisa broke the U-20 World record by clocking a timing of 14:23. 

Read Also | Cricket versus "Sports": A friend or a foe?

Records Beatrice Chebet broke in 2024

Chebet had a stunning 2024, breaking multiple records on the track. Here are some records she broke in 2024 before breaking this record.  

• On 25th May, she became the first woman to run 10,000m in under 29 minutes at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. She broke the 10000m World record by clocking 28:54.
• Chebet won the Olympic 5,000m gold medal in Paris, beating Faith Kipyegon to the line with a winning time of 14:28.56.
• She then won the Olympic 10,000m gold medal in Paris with a time of 30:43.25

World Athletics has earlier announced that athletes should wear shoes with a uniform 20-millimeter sole thickness limit for all events. This rule will come into action on November 1st, 2024, marking a notable change in the actions of the athletes.

This rule has been induced to welcome fairness in the game. However, this has sparked controversies. While many athletes have accepted it, some are still in dilemmas about the rule.

Well, let's look at how the rule will impact the performance. However, for now, let's look at the present thickness.

Current Shoe Sole Thickness Rules in Athletics

Presently, there is no such uniformity of sole thickness. Thickness normally varies according to the events in which the athletes participate.

Suppose, in events where an athlete will have run more than 800 meters, shoes are allowed to have a sole up to 25 mm. However, when it comes to shorter distances, the maximum thickness has been limited to 20 mm.

For field events, including the high jump, athletes have a 20mm limit. But for the triple jump, athletes are allowed to wear shoes with soles up to 25mm.

These rules were implemented in January 2022, based on the technological advancements in shoes. However, from 1st November this year, there will be no distinction in sole thickness in different events.

Point to be noted: the rules for road events like marathons and race walks, which permit a 40mm sole thickness, will remain unchanged.

Why is World Athletics enforcing a 20mm sole limit?

The main motto of World Athletics is to ensure fairness. As a result of this, the federation has decided to apply the rule of a uniform 20mm limit to the sole.

In recent years, advances in shoe technology—particularly with thicker soles and carbon fiber plates—have sparked debates about whether these shoes offer athletes some unfair advantage.

Thus, World Athletics created its own Working Group on Athletic Shoes in 2020. The main task of this group is to analyze the impact of shoe technology on performance. They also draft regulations, ensuring that athletes are focusing more on skills and not technology.

The new rule was announced well in advance to give shoe manufacturers ample time to adapt their designs.

Athletes' Reactions to the 20mm Rule Change

Top athletes have had mixed reactions to the upcoming rule. Joshua Cheptegei, the Olympic and World Champion in the 10,000 meters, supports the change, describing it as "for the benefit of the sport."

He added that the thinner soles won’t necessarily lead to slower times, emphasizing that performance is often influenced by an athlete's mindset. Cheptegei also noted that recent shoe technology has aided recovery between training sessions, which could be impacted by the new regulations.

Meanwhile, Muktar Edris, a former two-time 5,000m World Champion, said that a thicker sole helps the athletes, providing them extra "energy" and "push." A reduced sole may hamper a regular action.

The Controversy Surrounding Shoe Technology

The controversy regarding shoe technology is nothing new. Before 2022, the track spikes had soles with thicknesses up to 30 mm.

During the Tokyo Olympics, legendary sprinter Usain Bolt brought this issue to the public, citing the unfair advantage an athlete may receive due to thicker boots. Not only that, but with the increased use of technologically advanced shoes, world records that looked unbreakable are at stake.

Karsten Warholm, the one who holds the World Record in 400m hurdles, also expressed his concern. After winning the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, he questioned the boots of the runner-up, Rai Benjamin.

Warholm made serious claims that Benjamin used thicker Nike soles that provided the later an unfair advantage. Warholm's remarks not only concerned the federation but drew attention to the fine line between technological innovation and "technological doping."

The Impact of Shoe Technology on Performance

Eliud Kipchoge, the first athlete who broke the two-hour marathon barrier in 2019, sparked controversies at his time as well. He used the Nike Alphafly, which featured thick soles and carbon plates. However, the nature of the event didn't let that record count. 

Later, World Athletics introduced a rule. It required the new shoes to be in the open market for at least four months prior to the competition. This rule also aspired to thwart athletes with exclusive shoe deals from gaining an unfair advantage.

Will the 20mm sole limit affect athlete performance?

It is not exactly negative, but the athletes will solely depend on their physical abilities and techniques. Yes, a few athletes do consider this to hurt their performance, but just like Cheptegei mentioned, mental resilience and training will play a crucial role in breaking records or achieving personal bests (PB).

Well, a reduced cushion in the sole will demand more energy from the athlete. Thus, athletes need to adjust their training regimes to adapt to the new rules.

World Athletics had mentioned clearly that they want to promote uniformity. They want the athletes to rely on their power and skills, not some technology beneath their feet, that will change and evolve with time. 

However, with shoe manufacturers rushing to adapt their designs, the real test will come when athletes compete under the new regulations in 2024.