Daily Times

A Tri-nation Kabaddi Series, involving Pakistan, India, and Iran, will be held in different cities of Punjab from Jan 8 to 13. According to the schedule of the series, Pakistan will take on India in the opening match in Jhang on Jan 8. The series will conclude in Lahore on Jan 13. The matches will also be held in Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, besides Lahore and Jhang. Pakistan’s three-time Asian Games medallist Wasim Sajjad believes the Triangular Kabaddi Series with India, Iran and Pakistan can open doors for professional players to enter the Pro Kabaddi League. While 2019 will look to be an active year for kabaddi, Pakistan is kicking things off by hosting a triangular international kabaddi series as Iran and India have arrived in Lahore. The Indian squad reached Pakistan through Wahgah border on January 3, whereas Iran came on January 1. Both teams will compete with Pakistan with a traditional circle style of kabaddi.

The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) is also holding the national championship with 15 teams, including the provincial sides and departmental squads and after skimming the best talent from the national event, the team will be made for the triangular series. The bigger Pakistani names like Wasim Sajjad and Muhammad Nasir will be missing the national championship however, as they play Asian style kabaddi, while circle style is more traditional format that is popular locally in India and Pakistan.

Sajjad feels that although the top players are not participating because of the format of the triangular series, the event can be an opportunity to show that India and Pakistan has more in common than meets the eye. He added that the event will send a message to the global community that Pakistan is a welcoming place. He also hoped that the event will be able to convince the Indian government to see that Pakistanis can play in the Indian Professional Kabaddi League.

Published in Daily Times, January 5^th 2019.