Conceptualised, owned, and operated by SJ Uplift Kabaddi, UPKL continues to expand into kabaddi-strong belts across the state. With Kanpur\u2019s long-standing kabaddi heritage, vibrant youth circuits, and growing appetite for competitive sport, Kanpur Warriors\u2019 addition marks a strategic milestone in the league\u2019s mission to deepen inclusivity and unearth local heroes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The team owned and operated by BA Sports Club LLP, and led by entrepreneur Bhumika Vora, marks a major push to bring kabaddi into the cultural spotlight of one of Uttar Pradesh\u2019s most passionate cities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Talking about the announcement, Sambhav Jain, director and founder of SJ Uplift Kabaddi, said, \u201cUPKL was always envisioned as a launchpad for grassroots athletes, transforming kabaddi from a gully sport into a structured professional ecosystem. Following the extraordinary success of Season 1, welcoming new cities like Kanpur is not just growth; it is our evolution. Kanpur\u2019s inclusion strengthens our vision to build a tiered ladder for athletes: from local leagues to UPKL and eventually national and global stages.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As a key pillar in UPKL\u2019s expansion, Kanpur signals a bold push to transform traditional kabaddi heartlands into high-performance hubs fuelled by ambition and pride.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Talking about the announcement, Sambhav Jain, director and founder of SJ Uplift Kabaddi, said, \u201cUPKL was always envisioned as a launchpad for grassroots athletes, transforming kabaddi from a gully sport into a structured professional ecosystem. Following the extraordinary success of Season 1, welcoming new cities like Kanpur is not just growth; it is our evolution. Kanpur\u2019s inclusion strengthens our vision to build a tiered ladder for athletes: from local leagues to UPKL and eventually national and global stages.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
UPKL\u2019s inaugural season reached over 30 million TV viewers as per BARC India and generated 300+ million digital impressions, driven largely by audiences from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n