Bangladesh men’s and women’s kabaddi teams have started training camp ahead of the international fixtures which would keep them busy in the coming days.
The men’s team will play five-match Test series against Sri Lanka at home while the female troop are set to compete in the Women’s Asian Kabaddi Championship in Iran.
The Test series and Asian Championship are scheduled to be held next month.
The Women’s Kabaddi World Cup is scheduled to take place in India afterwards while the men’s Kabaddi World Cup may also see the light of day after nine years.
The chance is high for Bangladesh to host its maiden Kabaddi World Cup.
It was agreed in the last extraordinary general virtual meeting of International Kabaddi Federation that Bangladesh would host the next World Cup.
“Bangladesh is going to be the hosts but we are asking from Bangladesh Kabaddi to make the proposal,” IKF secretary Sathasivam Munisamy told Dhaka Tribune.
“We will go through everything if it’s fine to arrange. Then we can agree and sanction the tournament,” he added.
Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation’s general secretary SM Nawaz Shohag told Dhaka Tribune that the official letter with regards to hosting the World Cup in Bangladesh has been sent to the IKF after the meeting Friday.
“Primarily it was agreed in the meeting that Bangladesh would be the hosts. We sent the letter IKF asked for. Now we are working on financial and commercial involvement. We will talk to Star Sports regarding the TV rights,” said Shohag.
“It is necessary to host a World Cup in Bangladesh. We are trying,” he added.
The probable date of the World Cup is any time from September to December this year.
The IKF has organized three men’s World Cup editions in 2004, 2007 and 2016 and one women’s World Cup in 2012.
Bangladesh participated in every edition.
The next Women’s World Cup will be held in Bihar.
The date is yet to be set.
Bangladesh’s kabaddi fraternity is also busy for the forthcoming schedule, bringing both the men’s and women’s team to the camp after a long time.
“We will be hosting kabaddi Test series after 50 years. It will be against Sri Lanka that includes five matches,” said Shohag.
“We will arrange more of such Test series afterwards,” he added.
The Women’s Asian Kabaddi Championship 2025 in Iran is set to be held from February 20-25.
Bangladesh started preparation ahead of that event.
The practice camp of both men’s and women’s team started on January 10.
The men’s team began fitness training at Bangabandhu National Stadium while the women’s side have been training at the Women’s Sports Complex.
“A total of 25 women joined the camp. They were selected from last month’s Victory Day Kabaddi Championship. Initially we worked on the fitness of the players,” women’s team’s head coach Subimol Chandra Das told Dhaka Tribune.
Men’s team’s head coach Mohammad Badshah Mia said: “We have 12 players in the men’s camp. Six players are abroad at Nepal Kabaddi League. We are expecting few more from Army team after the end of their inter-unit competitions.”
The BKF general secretary also informed that they will play Test series against Nepal after the Sri Lanka series and hoped to continue the impetus against other kabaddi nations in the coming days while keeping eyes on the next World Cup.
