Highlights
- Pakistan wins Kabaddi World Cup for the first time
- 'Unofficial' Indian team participated in the tournament
- First-time Kabaddi World Cup hosted in Pakistan
Pakistan won the toss and decided to raid first to which India responded defiantly leading the first session by six points.
The competition remained very close throughout the second session with Pakistan taking the lead in the latter half of the match.
The crowd watched in anticipation and erupted in excitement as Pakistan scored its last point with 8 seconds to go to become the world champion.
The winning team were in tears when they ran a lap around Punjab stadium to celebrate the historic moment.
Watch the full award ceremony below:
Raider and man of the match Malik Binyamin talking to local media said that “It was the prayers of the people and efforts of our coaches that lead us to this victory.”
Another player Shafiq Chisti said that he has tears of joy today.
“I dedicate this win to orphans in our country and to those who used to pray for our team, country and the sport. We have won due to their love, prayers and support,” said Mr Chisti.
Australia took fourth place in the tournament after losing the runner up match to Iran on Sunday.
Pakistan's players wave Pakistan national flags as they celebrate after winning their final match in the Kabbadi World Cup 2020 against India in Lahore. Source: ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images
First-time hosts
Teams from Pakistan, India, Canada, United States, Australia, England, Iran, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Azerbaijan competed against each other in a total of 24 matches last week.
This was the first time Pakistan hosted Kabaddi World Cup and the matches were played in four locations Lahore, Faisalabad, Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib.
The opening ceremony was inaugurated by Chief Minister Punjab, Usman Buzdar where he applauded the efforts of Punjab Government and Kabaddi Federation.
In a speech at the opening ceremony, he said that “It’s an honour to hold this competition in Pakistan.”
“Our traditional game is back in Pakistan and our grounds are once again filled with excitement,” said Mr Buzdar.
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Unofficial Indian Team
The Indian team arrived on Saturday, 15th February at Wagah border Lahore where they received a warm welcome by Punjab’s Minister of Sports Rai Taimoor Khan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony Mr Khan said that “The challenge we faced was that the Indian team might not participate in the tournament.”
“We promised that the leading Kabaddi teams from around the world will participate in this tournament including defending champions India and we will successfully host this event.
“I am proud to say that the Government of Punjab has delivered on this promise.” he further added.
However, as reported by India Today a sports ministry spokesman said that the government had not granted permission to any athlete to travel to Pakistan for the tournament.
"The sports ministry and the ministry of external affairs have not granted any permission to any team, which is mandatory while representing the country at any international event," a sports ministry source told Press Trust of India on condition of anonymity.
Furthermore, coach Harpreet Singh Baba, who is accompanying the team, has clarified that the team got the invite to take part in the tournament at an individual level.
Pakistani (green) and Indian Kabaddi players in action during the final of the Kabaddi World Cup between Pakistan and India, in Lahore, Pakistan, 16 February 20 Source: AAP Image/EPA/RAHAT DAR
"Like earlier occasions, we came here this time to participate in the tournament. Since we all are here in an individual capacity, the approval of the Ministry of External Affairs or the Indian Olympic Association was not required," Baba told IANS.
This adds further tension between the two countries due to the ongoing situation in Kashmir and an announcement by Board of Control for Cricket in India saying that they will not participate in this year’s Asia Cup cricket tournament which is to be hosted Pakistan later this year.
A BCCI official said that “The question isn’t about the PCB hosting the tournament. It is about the venue and as things stand now, it is quite clear that we would need a neutral venue. There is no way that an Indian team can visit Pakistan to even participate in a multi-nation event like the Asia Cup.”
What is Kabaddi?
Kabaddi is a contact team sport which is played between two teams consisting of seven players on each side. It is the national sports of Bangladesh.
According to Wikipedia the objective of the game is for a single player on offence referred to as a "raider", to run into the opposing team's half of a court, tag out as many of their defenders as possible, and return to their own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders.
Points are scored tagged by the raider, while the opposing team earns a point for stopping the raider. Players are taken out of the game if they are tagged or tackled, but are brought back in for each point scored by their team from a tag or tackle.
It is played in two different styles, circle style most popular in the Punjab region and played outdoors. The other one is known as the standard style which is played indoors.
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Kabaddi - Photo used for representation purposes only Source: Supplied by Anirudh Kaushal
