The Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation President and Inspector General of Police of Bangladesh Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said that they are making the national game kabaddi ‘popular’ in the world landscape.
“Our efforts to develop Kabaddi through various programmes are continuing. Also, we are making our national game kabaddi popular in the world landscape,” Mamun told reporters in a press conference at the Bangladesh Olympic Association Auditorium on Monday.
“Our efforts are underway to make a separate kabaddi complex in Dhaka. We have proposed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports in this regard,” the BKP president further said.
The BKF announced in the press conference that the fourth edition of Bangabandhu Cup 2024 International Kabaddi Tournament, which is also the qualifiers for the forthcoming Kabaddi World Cup, will take place from 26 May to 3 June at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in Mirpur.
This year, a total of 12 teams – Iraq, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Poland, Kenya and hosts Bangladesh – will compete in the competition.
The participating teams will arrive on 23-24 May while the groupings and fixtures will be confirmed in the managers meeting on 25 May.
The BKF General Secretary and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman and National Parliament Whip and former national cricket captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza were also present on the occasion.
“We’re trying to spread the game (Kabaddi). We don’t have such a big investment like in India. So, it is difficult to organize Pro Kabaddi, but we are trying,” said Habibur.
Meanwhile, Mashrafe said that he would do his best to popularize the national sport if he got the chance.
“Increasing the popularity of Kabaddi is not a one-day task, not easy either. I was connected to Kabaddi before and my association will continue. I will try my best to serve the national game,” said Mashrafe.
“No new ideas at the moment, but I will work to expand the game. I will definitely try if I get a chance. If the opportunity comes, I will definitely try to do something about a complex outside or around Dhaka, even if it is difficult,” he added.
The Bangabandhu Cup 2024 International Kabaddi, which is the prime kabaddi competition of the country, has been taking place since 2021 and hosts Bangladesh emerged champions in all previous three editions.
