The International Kabaddi Federation argued that it was "not the right time to engage with Pakistan".

The Pakistani team criticized the move, arguing that it was comparable to holding a FIFA World Cup without Brazil.

The venue utilizes technology licensed from the British firm StadiArena, which allows a portion of the field to be partitioned into a 4,000-seat indoor arena, which is used for the tournament.

The venue is a public-private partnership with India's Department of Tourism[3][4] The official emblem of the tournament was unveiled on 14 September 2016 by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel.

The use of a lion symbolizes the "ferocity of a Kabaddi defender and the agility of a raider", while its striped mane represents the worldwide participation in the tournament.