Pro Kabaddi League organisers, Mashal Sports, have announced the schedule for the first half of vivo Pro Kabaddi League 8 (PKL). It will begin from December 22, 7.30 PM, and all matches will be held at the Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Hotel & Convention Centre with no spectators.

A new format has been introduced this season with triple headers on the first four days, and ‘Triple Panga’ Saturdays, which will have three matches a day. On triple header days, the first match starts at 7.30 PM, the second at 8.30 PM and the third at 9.30 PM.

UP Yoddha will begin their PKL Season 8 journey with a match against Bengal Warriors at 9.30 PM on December 22. Their last match of the first half of PKL 8 is on January 17, 2022, at 7.30 PM against Puneri Paltan. Between the two mentioned dates, UP Yoddha will play every other PKL team once, and in all, will play 11 matches.

“The vivo Pro Kabaddi League is known for reinvigorating and popularising India’s own sport of kabaddi, and with the new format, we aim to continue reinventing the sport,” Anupam Goswami, the CEO of Mashal Sports, said.

“Releasing the schedule in two halves will help teams strategise better and keep the fans engaged. The triple headers and “Triple Panga” will provide more fans more opportunities to watch their favourite players and teams in action as they battle it out for the coveted title,” he added.

UP Yoddha come into this season with Pardeep Narwal on their side, adding to PKL’s sole centurion defender Nitesh Kumar and UP Yoddha’s leading raider last year, Shrikant Jadhav’s prowess.

The team was practising at UP Yoddha BK Kabaddi Academy in Meerut ahead of the season. Head Coach Jasveer Singh and Assistant Coach Arjun Singh had the team up and running for gym and practice sessions in the mornings and in the evenings every day.

The team has arrived in Bangalore for the start of vivo Pro Kabaddi League Season 8.

The players are under quarantine at the Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Hotel from December 5 to 12.

For UP Yoddha’s schedule and fixtures, click here.