A new chapter is going to be added in Indian Kabaddi. Commonwealth Championship is going to be organized in Ahmedabad before 23rd October. This tournament will last for 9 days and more than 400 players from 13 countries will participate in it. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) has received the approval from the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) for this event, in which 23 teams will enter and a total of 62 matches will be played.
39 matches of men's category and 23 matches of women's category will be played in the competition. Through this tournament, the title of Commonwealth Champion will be awarded for the first time in both men's and women's categories. The championship was formally unveiled at a curtain-raiser press conference held on Wednesday (21 October), where the official jerseys, team captains, anthems, logos and mascots were presented.
Also read: Asian Para Games: India's Dilip Gavit wins gold in 100 meter race
Kabaddi's international development will gain momentum
This first championship is expected to provide a new impetus to the international growth of Kabaddi and can play an important role in strengthening the case for the sport's inclusion in the Commonwealth Games in the future. Commonwealth Games are to be organized in Ahmedabad in the year 2030. In such a situation, this tournament will also be a big opportunity to showcase the city's hosting capacity of international sports events.
AKFI General Secretary Jitendra Prana Singh Thakur said in the press conference, 'Hosting the first Commonwealth Championship in Ahmedabad is a proud moment for Indian Kabaddi. “We are excited to welcome all the participating teams and look forward to showcasing the spirit of the game, the skill of the players and its competitive intensity on the international stage.”
Also read: ICC Women's Under-19 World Cup schedule released, India's first match against West Indies
Which countries will participate?
Countries participating in the competition include India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Scotland and Australia. The semi-final matches of both men's and women's categories will be played on October 30, after which the final matches will be organized on October 31.
Declared captain of Indian teams
The Indian men's team will be captained by Surjeet Singh, while Naveen Kumar will play the role of vice-captain. Whereas, Nidhi Sharma will lead the women's team and Ritu will be the vice-captain of the women's team.
Where will this championship be seen on mobile?
Live streaming of Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship will be on JioHotstar app. Live streaming facility will also be available on JioHotstar's website. The live telecast will be done on Star Sports.