Kabaddi: State to invite Pak, int’l body dithers

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 26

The International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) hosting the Kabaddi World Cup from October 7 in Ahmedabad has barred Pakistan from the tournament, while the Punjab Kabaddi Association, which is organising the 6th World Cup Kabaddi from November 3, has decided to send an invitation to the hostile neighbour.

Deoraj Chaturvedi, Chief Executive Officer, International Kabaddi Federation, said: “Pakistan is a valuable member and stakeholder of the federation, but in view of the current political atmosphere, we have decided, in the best interest of the sport, that this world cup should be played without Pakistan.”

Sikander Singh Maluka, president, Punjab Kabaddi Association, said: “Based on our warm relations with the Pakistani counterparts, we will definitely extend an invitation to them for participation in the world cup. Kabaddi knows no politics. People in both countries love the game and Pakistanis are our best rivals on ground. We will definitely invite them unless the Union Government disallows us.”

The Kabaddi World Cup (Ahmedabad) is scheduled from October 7 to October 22. The participating countries include the US, England, Australia, Iran, Poland, Thailand, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan, Argentina and Kenya, besides India. Teams have already started arriving.

The 6th World Cup Kabaddi will be organised from November 3 to 17 across 14 venues in Punjab. At least 14 nations, in both men and women categories are expected to participate. The expected teams are Argentina, Canada, England, India, Iran, Kenya, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Spain, US, Denmark and Pakistan.

The tournament in Ahmedabad will be played in the national style in which the raiders can be stopped by the entire team, while in Punjab the contest will be open style in which only one player can stop the raider.