Nepal Kabaddi League
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Nepal The official logo of NKL | |
| Country | Nepal |
|---|---|
| Administrator | All Nepal Kabaddi Association(ANKA) and Astrionix Management Private Limited |
| First tournament | 2025 |
| Next tournament | 2026 |
| Tournament format | Round-robin league and playoffs |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Current champions | Janakpur Knights |
| Most successful | Janakpur Knights (1 title) |
| TV partner(s) | Kantipur Max TV HD |
| Slogan | Mato dekhi Maidan Samma |
| Website | nepalkabaddileague |
The Nepal Kabaddi League (NKL)[1] organized by Astrionix Management is a professional-level Kabaddi League in Nepal, featuring six franchise teams representing Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Dhangadhi, and Butwal.[2][3] The inaugural season was held from January 17 to January 31 of 2025.[4]
The NKL was established to promote Kabaddi in Nepal and provide a platform for local talent to showcase their skills. The league is organized by Astrionix Management Private Limited.
Janakpur Knights won the inagural season by defeating Kathmandu Mavericks in the final with a score of 43 – 41.[5][6]
This league was invisioned by the owner of Astrionix Management - Mr. Amit Begani. Over 90 kabaddi players from Nepal and abroad were featured in the players' draft, held on 15 December 2024 in Kathmandu. The league was officially launched in November 2024.
The NKL aims to boost Kabaddi's popularity in Nepal and develop the sport at the grassroots level. The league is expected to be a significant step towards achieving these goals, with the potential to attract more players and fans to the sport.
Organization
Teams acquire players through an auction. Each team has a squad of 14 players, with the opportunity of signing up to four foreign players. Drafting of the inaugural season took place on 15 December 2024.[7][8] .The inaugural edition saw participation from international players from Bangladesh,[9] Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Format
The league follows single round-robin format, with each team playing against every other teams at National Sports Council Covered Hall (NSC Covered Hall), Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.
Teams
The NKL consists of six franchise teams, each representing a major city in Nepal.[10]
On 28 March 2026, the league officially announced the franchise owners for the second season.[11][12] Two teams underwent rebranding after change in ownership: Biratnagar Bandits became Biratnagar Bahubali[13] and Himalayan Raiders became Butwal Bulls.[14]
| Team | City | Debut | Captain | Head Coach | Owner(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biratnagar Bahubali | Biratnagar, Koshi Province | 2025 | Kalyan Bhujel | Satisha Nayaka | National Investment Holding Pvt. Ltd. | [13] |
| Butwal Bulls | Butwal, Lumbini Province | Ganesh Bahadur Karki | Sandip Pant | Morai Corporation Pvt. Ltd. | [14] | |
| Dhangadi Wild Cats | Dhangadi, Sudurpashchim Province | Padam Bahadur Bist | Mahesh Bohara | Dhading Wildcat Pvt. Ltd. | [15] | |
| Janakpur Knights | Janakpur, Madhesh Province | Ramu Tamatta | Ganesh Krishna | Neco Insurance Limited | [15] | |
| Kathmandu Mavricks | Kathmandu, Bagmati Province | Ghanashyam Roka Magar | Alok Singh | Kathmandu Mavericks Pvt. Ltd. | [15] | |
| Pokhara Lakers | Pokhara, Gandaki Province | Pradip Mijar | Rajaram Periyapuliyan | Fewa Construction Pvt. Ltd. | [15] |
Tournament season and result
| Season | Final | Final Venue | Best Raider | Best Defender | Most Total Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Result | Runner-up | |||||
| 2025 | Janakpur Knights | 45 – 41 | Kathmandu Mavericks | N.S.C. Covered Hall, Tripureshwor | Ghanshyam Roka Magar | Tanongsak Srihera | Ghanshyam Roka Magar |
| 2026 | |||||||
Team performances
Future Plans
The Astrionix Management has plans to expand the league by introducing a Women's Kabaddi League in the future. The Management team is also working on securing more sponsors and Partnerships to ensure the League's long-term sustainability and growth.