Sports
Asian Kabaddi League names Vikram Vijay Chandan as president for revenue growth and media
Strategic hire signals push to scale women’s kabaddi as a commercial sport
NEW DELHI: Asian Kabaddi League has appointed Vikram Vijay Chandan as president for revenue growth and media, in a move that underlines its ambitions to build a commercially viable and culturally relevant kabaddi platform.
Chandan joins as a strategic advisor at a time when the league is positioning itself as a women-centric sporting property, aiming to blend media scale, commercial strategy and grassroots development into a unified ecosystem.
With over two decades of experience, Chandan’s career spans key phases of India’s evolving sports economy. At ESPN Star Sports, he developed insights into audience behaviour and broadcast dynamics. His stint at Sony Pictures Networks India coincided with the rapid commercialisation of sports through sponsorships and media rights, while his work with Gambig Inc focused on expanding grassroots access and building product ecosystems.
The timing of the appointment reflects a broader shift in kabaddi’s trajectory. The success of the Pro Kabaddi League has already established the sport as a major viewership driver after cricket, supported by strong revenues from media rights, franchises and sponsorships. However, the women’s segment remains relatively underdeveloped, presenting a clear opportunity for new entrants.
The Asian Kabaddi League aims to tap into this gap through its “She Rises” initiative, a women-focused competition featuring eight teams across Indian states. The league is designed to create a structured pathway for talent, connecting grassroots participation with national and international exposure.
Kabaddi’s accessibility and low infrastructure requirements make it particularly suited for expansion into smaller towns and emerging markets, a factor the league is expected to leverage as it builds scale.
With Chandan now on board, the league is looking to accelerate its commercial roadmap while shaping a broader sports movement that goes beyond competition. The focus will be on creating new icons in women’s kabaddi, unlocking sponsorship and media opportunities, and positioning the sport as a global property with Indian roots.
As the Asian Kabaddi League takes shape, the emphasis is clear: this is not just about launching another league, but about building a more inclusive and future-ready sporting ecosystem.
