Bangladesh’s campaign in the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup came to an end in the semi-finals on Sunday, following an 18-25 defeat to Chinese Taipei at Mirpur’s Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium. While the team showed determination and tactical discipline, they were ultimately overpowered in the latter stages by a more experienced opponent.
The first half highlighted Bangladesh’s fighting spirit, keeping the scoreline close at 8-9. Senior players, including Rupli Akter, attempted to marshal the team through strategic raids and solid defence. Akter’s farewell match added a layer of emotion, and she was formally recognised with the captain’s armband and a ceremonial crown by Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan.
Bangladesh initially turned the tables in the second half, briefly moving ahead 10-9, but Chinese Taipei responded immediately to restore parity at 10-10. The tactical turning point came in the fifth minute of the second half, when Bangladesh were put all-out, allowing Chinese Taipei to gain a three-point advantage at 15-12. From there, they maintained control to run out comfortable winners.
Although Bangladesh fell short of the final, securing the bronze medal marks the nation’s best-ever finish in a Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, surpassing their fifth-place result in 2012. Analysts praised the team’s tactical growth and the emergence of new talent alongside seasoned players. The semi-final defeat will offer valuable lessons for future international competitions.
Chinese Taipei will meet India in the final on Monday, following India’s decisive 33-21 win over Iran in the other semi-final.
