Bhatkal: For the first time, a Bhatkal Pro-Kabaddi Tournament will be held in Dubai on Sunday, August 31, bringing together Bhatkali players from across the Gulf region. The one-day event will take place at the Indian Model School Ground in Garhoud, Dubai, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., confirmed S.M. Syed Afzal, a key member of the tournament’s organizing committee.
He informed that participation in this inaugural tournament has been limited exclusively to players of Bhatkali origin. Invitations were extended to Bhatkali kabaddi players residing across the Gulf region, with players from Saudi Arabia and Oman also showing interest, alongside hundreds from the UAE. He further mentioned that a total of 125 players from the UAE registered, out of which 104 were shortlisted for the auction process. Following the recently held auction, 38 players were selected for the four UAE teams, making them considerably stronger.
“Since this is the first time a Pro-Kabaddi tournament of this scale is being organized in Dubai, we decided to include only Bhatkali players,” Afzal said. “From next year, once this event is successfully organized, players from neighboring regions of Bhatkal may also be invited. Kabaddi has always been one of the most popular sports among the youth of Bhatkal and Karnataka, but the younger generation is slowly drifting away due to mobile culture. Through this tournament, we aim to revive interest in this traditional sport, sharpen players’ skills, and bring Gulf-based Bhatkali kabaddi players onto one platform.”
Another organizing committee member, Safa K.M., emphasized that kabaddi is more than just a sport. “It represents teamwork, unity, and trust. It instills courage, resilience, and the ability to face challenges. Through this event, we want to showcase the talent of Bhatkali youth and connect them with the true spirit of sportsmanship,” he said.
Similarly, committee member Faiq Udaywar pointed out that the Bhatkal Bulls Kabaddi Team has already earned recognition in Dubai. “Recently, our team participated in a state-level tournament and secured second place with an impressive performance. We believe this event will help us discover more talented players who can be inducted into the Bhatkal Bulls to further strengthen the team,” he said.
The tournament will feature six teams in total—four from the UAE and one each from Saudi Arabia and Oman. The teams and their top four players are as follows:
Tea Party Officials – Muhid, Rabban, Zufaf, Nihal
Crown Stone Real Estate – Mustaqeem, Naufil, Zakkar, Abdulbar
Unique Riders – Abdul Bari, Muhtasim, Yunus, Sahil
Auz Paltan – Rayyan, Abrar, Simal, Adeeb
BMJ Saudi Dammam – Sihan, Zuhair, Yusuf, Moosa
Royal Nawayath (Oman) – Shamvil, Kaif, Naif, Ibraheem
As kabaddi continues to be a favorite sport among Bhatkali youth, the Dubai tournament is expected to be a resounding success. With fierce competition on the horizon, kabaddi enthusiasts are looking forward to a thrilling and entertaining event.