India Drawn in Bangladesh’s Group for Women’s Kabaddi World Cup

Bangladesh is set to host the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup for the first time, with the tournament opening tomorrow at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Mirpur. Ahead of the kickoff, the World Cup trophy was unveiled and the group draws announced earlier today.

In the second edition of the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, Bangladesh has been placed in the challenging Group A alongside Thailand, Uganda, Germany, and reigning champions India. Group B will feature Iran, Chinese Taipei, Poland, Nepal, Zanzibar, and Kenya.

The inaugural Women’s Kabaddi World Cup was held in India in 2012, with the host nation claiming the championship. Bangladesh had finished fifth out of 16 teams in that first tournament, a performance that set the benchmark for the national team’s aspirations at home.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Bangladesh’s captain Rupali Akter said that while the team is aiming to improve on their previous fifth-place finish, their focus is not solely on winning the trophy. “We finished fifth in the first World Cup. This time, we want to perform even better and show progress,” she said.

Rupali, who will retire after this tournament, described leading her country at a World Cup as a career highlight. “I have played Kabaddi since 2009, but I have never captained the national team before. To lead my country in my final tournament is truly special,” she said.

The trophy unveiling was held at the official residence of the Chief Adviser in Jamuna, with Rupali and ten other team captains in attendance. Among the dignitaries were Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser; Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Youth and Sports Adviser; Vinod Kumar Tiwari, President of the International Kabaddi Federation; and Baharul Alam, President of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation and IGP, alongside General Secretary S M Newaz Shohag.

The tournament promises an exciting spectacle, with Bangladesh aiming to make a strong showing on home soil against some of the world’s best women’s Kabaddi teams.