Kabaddi set for greater global push with World Cup and women’s league plans

Representatives from Australia, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Canada, Kenya, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Netherlands and England took part in the executive committee meeting. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Following its first executive committee meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday, the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) announced that it is working on plans to stage a Kabaddi World Cup and launch a women’s league in the near future.

The franchise-based women’s league will follow the ProKabaddi League model, with IKF targeting eight teams for the inaugural edition. On the other hand, countries keen on hosting the World Cup have been invited to submit proposals for the same.

The bigger goal, IKF president Kasani Gnaneshwar said, is the sport’s inclusion in the 2036 Olympic Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Greater international recognition, he stressed, would inspire more people across the world to take up kabaddi and also encourage countries to set aside dedicated funds for its development.

Gnaneshwar said India had played a part in Iran’s rise and hoped for other nations to develop similarly in the years ahead.

“Iran was not this good at kabaddi before. India sent the coaches there; they worked hard there, and now they are good enough to compete with India. Similarly, we need other countries to also develop, for the good of the sport,” he said.

Representatives from Australia, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Canada, Kenya, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Netherlands and England took part in the meeting. Gnaneshwar also said that 62 new countries have joined the IKF as members.