Kathmandu, Dec. 17: The draft for the inaugural edition of the Nepal Kabaddi League (NKL) was completed on Sunday, alongside the announcement of team coaches and marquee players. A total of six teams have selected 84 players from the draft.

The NKL, organized by Astrionix Management Pvt. Ltd., will feature teams from six different cities: Biratnagar Bandits, Janakpur Knights, Kathmandu Mavericks, Pokhara Lakers, Himalayan Raiders, and Dhangadhi Wildcats.

Coaches have been appointed for each team: Lok Bahadur Bista for Biratnagar, Parbati Rai for Janakpur, Saroj Kumar Singh for Kathmandu, Vishnudatta Bhatta for Pokhara, and Mahesh Bohara for Dhangadhi. The Himalayan Raiders from Butwal have appointed two coaches: Sandeep Pant and Pothuganti Satish Kumar. Coach Parbati, who won a bronze medal with the Nepali women’s team at the 19th Asian Games, is poised to become the first Nepali female coach to manage a men’s team, while Satish Kumar is a former player in the Pro Kabaddi League in India.

The marquee players announced include Kalyan Bhujel for Biratnagar, Padam Bahadur Bista for Dhangadhi, Ganesh Parki for the Himalayan Raiders, Ramu Tamata for Janakpur, Ghanshyam Roka Magar for Kathmandu, and Pradeep Mijar for Pokhara. Ghanshyam, who plays in the Pro Kabaddi League in India, is also the captain of the Nepali national team.

Following the selection of the coaches and marquee players, the drafting of players into the NKL took place. In total, 117 players—comprising 92 Nepalis and 25 foreigners—were in the draft. The foreign players hail from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Kenya.

According to their strategies, the coaches have selected 84 players from the draft for their respective teams, with 66 being Nepali and 18 foreign. Each team is allowed a maximum roster of 14 players, which can include up to four foreign players.