The 2020 Kabaddi World Cup is scheduled to happen from February 9 to 16 in Pakistan. Initially, the tournament was supposedly going to take place from January 12 to 19, before the dates were changed to the current timetable. The reason behind the alteration was the intensely cold weather at Punjab around this time.
This year is the first time for Pakistan to host the Kabaddi World Cup. The prior 2016 edition of the tournament was hosted by India, who also organised all the previous editions. The Kabaddi World Cup was established in 2004 and is broadcasted by Star Sports in India, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Sony Ten in Canada.
The tournament is an international indoor Kabaddi competition administered by the International Kabaddi Federation or IKF. The tournament is participated by both men and women’s national teams from all over the world. The Kabaddi World Cup has only happened three times, in 2004, 2007 and 2016, all hosted by India.
The top ten IKF rankings are listed below:
Rank | Team | Points |
1 | India | 140 |
2 | Iran | 90 |
3 | Pakistan | 83 |
4 | Thailand | 81 |
5 | Bangladesh | 80 |
6 | Kenya | 75 |
7 | Poland | 60 |
8 | England | 59 |
9 | United States | 51 |
10 | Japan | 47 |
Meanwhile, here is a brief recap of the previous editions of the tournament:
Edition | Host | Champions | Score |
2004 | Mumbai, India | India | 55 |
2007 | Panvel, India | India | 29 |
2016 | Ahmedabad, India | India | 38 |
Latest kabaddi news includes a controversy that some Indian players are being adjusted in other participating teams like Australia, England and Canada, according to the Pakistan Amateur Circle Kabaddi Federation or PACKF. Apparently, there are around 45 players accompanied by 12 officials and coaches who are currently in India do not have official permission nor clearance.
Now, the Pakistan federation is demanding for an investigation on the matter. They want to know why the unauthorised Indian players are being considered as part of the official Indian team.
Muhammad Sarwar Bhatt, the PACKF secretary-general said in an interview that some Indian citizens have been included in the teams of Australia, Canada and England as ‘kabaddi players’. Bhatt said that only a number of players from the mentioned countries arrived in Pakistan and the teams were completed by Indian kabaddi players.
Bhatt said in an interview, ‘Iran’s team is somewhat a serious contender but Sierra Leone and Azerbaijan are non-kabaddi playing nations and do not have much at stake. The USA, Canada and Kenya did not send their teams to participate’.
It is worldly known that India and Pakistan have been involved in a long-term rivalry ever since. The infamous conflict between the two countries is known as one of the most extreme in the world. It is believed that the conflict between the two originated from the Partition of British India in 1947 which LED to the separation of India and Pakistan and began the bitter relationship.
On top of that, wars including the Indo-Pakistani and the Kashmir conflict added to the already burning turmoil. The conflict between the two nations is most apparent in cricket matches since the sport is highly popular in both countries.
Cricket was also introduced in India and Pakistan in a similar way — through the British colonisation. The English brought the sport in the countries during the British Raj and since then, the sport has immersed itself in the life and culture of both India and Pakistan.
The existing conflict between India and Pakistan increases the heat on the Kabaddi World Cup controversy. On Monday, a letter from November 28, 2019, written from the Punjab Kabaddi displays that the body was made aware by Pakistan regarding the Kabaddi World Cup.
The letter contains a reference number ‘1151’ to serve as authentication. However, it is still not confirmed despite the inclusion of secretary Amanpreet Singh Malhi’s signature. Both Malhi and Sikander Singh Maluka of the Punjab Kabaddi Association have not given a comment on the existing issue.
According to Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) administrator, Justice S P Garg, it is based on the central government to decide about the necessary action against the unofficial kabaddi team. Garg also said that the AKFI will inquire the Punjab Kabaddi Association on their part in the sending of players to Pakistan. The action on the matter will depend on the association’s answer.
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