The official logo and trophy of the inaugural edition of Nepal Kabaddi League (NKL) were unveiled on Friday.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Sports Minister Teju Lal Chaudhary, All Nepal Kabaddi League President Tulasi Thapa, Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha, and Astrionix Management Private Limited Chairperson Amit Begani, among others, unveiled the logo and trophy amid a function in Kathmandu. Astrionix is the main sponsor of the NKL.

The men’s kabaddi league will involve six franchise teams representing Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Dhangadhi and Butwal.

The kabaddi association finalised a 10-year agreement with Astrionix in November last year. The association has also reached an understanding with Astrionix to organise a women’s kabaddi league in the future.

While the official dates for the tournament are yet to be announced, it is expected to take place in January-February next year.

The league is expected to be a major boost for kabaddi in Nepal, a country that secured a bronze medal in their debut in women’s kabaddi competition at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year.

The women’s team also have a proud record in the South Asian Games. They won silver at the 13th South Asian Games, and bronze medals in the previous two editions of the SAG.

The men’s kabaddi team won bronze medals in the 11th and 13th SAG, and were runners-up in the 4th Bangabandhu Cup men’s international kabaddi competition in June earlier this year.