News Flash
DHAKA, Nov 20, 2025 (BSS)- Muhammad Sarwar Rana, Secretary General of the
Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) and the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF), who
has just arrived in Dhaka to witness the ongoing 2nd Women's Kabaddi World
Cup, expressed that the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF) is in safe hands.
He made the remark after watching a couple of matches on the fourth day of
the event at the Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur today
(Thursday).
He also shared his observations on the ongoing tournament, organised by BKF,
as well as outlined AKF's plans to host international friendly matches and
regional events.
Question: Bangladesh is hosting the Kabaddi World Cup for the first time. How
are the arrangements here? What have you observed?
Answer: The arrangements were outstanding - truly at the level of a World
Cup, if not even better. Bangladesh has shown that it's fully capable of
hosting major kabaddi events in the future. I sincerely appreciate and
congratulate the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation for the incredible work
they've done. Everything was amazing, no doubt. I was genuinely happy, and
honestly, I hadn't expected Bangladesh to pull this off so impressively - but
they proved it.
They proved themselves on both fronts: organisational excellence and strong
team preparation. It's clear that the BKF is now in safe, capable hands. And
when I saw the posters at the hotel, airport, and venue, I also learned
during this tournament that Kabaddi is the national game of Bangladesh. That
makes the federation's direction and efforts even more meaningful. I
congratulate them once again - they have truly done an extraordinary job.
Question: Is there anything special in these arrangements that impressed you
the most? Or do you have any recommendations for the hosts, the Bangladesh
Kabaddi Federation?
Answer: I noticed the changes right away. Today was my first day here, and I
couldn't attend the opening because my daughter-in-law was giving birth - it
was the first delivery in our family, so I had to be there. Honestly, I
thought the opening would be casual like before, but things have definitely
leveled up. The management, administration, and the federation are all
working in line with the updated standards of modern Kabaddi.
Question: Congratulations on the new member of your family. Only 11 teams are
playing in this edition of the Kabaddi World Cup. Do you think these
arrangements will attract more countries to come and compete here?
Answer: Thank you very much, I received a grandson.Alhamdulillah, with the
blessing of Almighty Allah. Yes, we can. It was simply one thing remaining:
that simply induct four or three or five or six teams. The level is already
better than before, better than other World Cups. It is wonderful, amazing,
no doubt. And I congratulate the Ministry of Sports who chose this team.
Nobody could imagine that Bangladesh is capable of conducting this kind of
event. But your federation has, your management, the team working behind
Kabaddi in Bangladesh currently - they proved their skill, their dedication,
their zeal to improve this game.
Question: Only three South Asian teams are playing this time - India, Nepal
and Bangladesh - although the region has more teams. Even Pakistan is not
participating.
Answer: Yes, we (Pakistan team) wanted to come here. I am from Pakistan, I am
the Secretary of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation. But we are busy with the
Bahrain Games and due to the shortage of time. After this tournament, we will
invite Bangladesh to Pakistan. And we will also visit Bangladesh soon after
this tournament. Our team was busy with the National Games, the dates
clashed. So, our girls, our team, our federation, they love to come to
Bangladesh.
Question : Do you have any plans to host a regional event in South Asia,
similar to SAFF football?
Answer: Yes, we have proof now. In fact, Bangladesh proved it. There should
be more events in this country. And I fully support in future because the
level of organisation, the level of sports-loving people also - they are
involved - and your media team is... wonderful job, every side is excellent.
Question : Who will be the champions? What is your prediction?
Answer: Currently India this time, because India have been working for a long
time. They have a professional league too. Even their women are playing for a
long time. Pakistan was just two or three years before they started.
Bangladesh ten years ago, I think, maybe. But Indians have been playing for
more than 100 years - their women are playing. But day by day, teams are
coming closer to each other. Then it will be dependent on luck in the future
who will be the winner. But here, India are favourites.
Question: Only the second World Cup in 13 years - when will the next one take
place?
Answer: There were problems. Our regional federations had problems. I don't
want to take any name, but now that has been resolved and kabaddi is in a
take-off position. Now we will issue the four-year calendar and we'll try to
comply with that, Insha'Allah.
Question: This year European teams like Poland and Germany are participating,
and even African teams. Do you have a plan to popularise this game worldwide?
Answer: Yes, we have plans. We have plan for good mega kabaddi events, to
conduct mega kabaddi events in different parts - like Bangladesh, like
Europe, like Africa, and like Iran, Pakistan. So, we will invite them. They
are newly arrived, these European teams. But, you know, their sports
infrastructure is better than Asian and African and other continental sports.
So, they will shortly learn this game and they will compete with the best
teams.
