Bangabandhu Cup International Kabaddi trophy unveiled

The trophy of the second edition of the Bangabandhu Cup International Kabaddi was unveiled at a hotel in the capital today.

The tournament,  commemorating the birth centenary of the Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,  is scheduled to start at the Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium from Saturday. 

"We want to make Kabaddi a global game as a good number of countries play it. Bangladesh will continue its efforts to expand the horizon of Kabaddi in the international arena. We believe Kababddi is not only the game that stay in the heart of the people of Bangladesh as it also has a global appeal" said Habibur Rahman, Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation's (BKF) general secretary and DIG of Dhaka Range during the press conference. 

A total of eight nations, split into two groups, are taking part in the six-day competition, which is expected to be very competitive with the presence of regional and continental powerhouses. 

The participating countries are holders Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and England, who form the Group A line-up while last edition's runners-up Kenya, Nepal, Asian powerhouse Iraq and Indonesia are pitted against each other in Group B.

The top two teams from both groups will advance to the semifinals before the final on March 24.

Bangladesh national kabaddi team captain Tuhin Tarafdar, who was one of the seven captains present at the press briefing, promised to retain the title. 

"We have been practising hard for the last one year and in the month of Independence we are confident of putting our best to retain the trophy" said Tuhin.

Tournament director E Prasad Rao thanked Bangladesh for hosting the tournament on behalf of the International Kabaddi Federation. 

"Bangladesh has been contributing in the development process of Kabaddi internationally. You see, we did not invite the teams that are medal winners in the international circuit.  These are the teams that wait for their international exposure and earn experience. From this point of view, Bangladesh's role in the development of Kabaddi is admirable" said Rao.