PESHAWAR, May 27 (APP): Secretary General Asian Kabaddi Association and former international Kabaddi player Rana Muhammad Sarwar has said that Pakistan would host two major international outings comprising Asian Beach Kabaddi Championship in August this year and already bid to host Kabaddi World Cup next year.
Rana Muhammad Sarwar, who is also Secretary General Pakistan Kabaddi Federation, said this in a Meet the Press Program of the KP Sports Writers Association here at Media Center on Friday. He said that now the atmosphere for the hosting international events in Pakistan is very conducive and the present govt of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is also very keen.
He said both Pakistan and India Kabaddi Federations are trying their level best to promote Kabaddi in this region and that is why both have played some key matches which attracted hundreds and thousands of Kabaddi spectators from around the world.
He said Pakistan Kabaddi Federation has already planned to host India, Iran and other Asian countries well before Asian Beach Games in September this year in Vietnam so that to provide competitive exposure of the players.
He said Pakistan won Asia Cup by beating India in the final and similarly India defeated Pakistan by just a point in the recently concluded South Asian Games held in India. There are more potential as far as players of Kabaddi are concerned in both Pakistan and India. He said currently 43 countries of the world affiliated with International Kabaddi Federation and soon we will be part and parcel by working under the supervision of International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“We have already completed the required and set parameters for the membership of International Olympic Committee (IOC), the world supreme sports body,” Mr. Rana added. Flanked by General Secretary of AIPs Asia Amjad Aziz Malik, and Director Sports PSB Coaching Center Mumtaz Ahmad Nadeem, Mr. Rana said that as Secretary General Asian Kabaddi Association he along with his team from other Asian countries are working hard for the promotion of Kabaddi in Asia.
Mr. Rana also disclosed that former international kabaddi player and referee Syed Sultan Shah has took over as Secretary KP Kabaddi Association by replacing Arbab Naseer Khan, who is settled down in Canada with his family.
He said Pakistan has hosted Asia Cup in difficult time and both India and Iran have extended full cooperation to him for Asia Cup along with other participating countries.
He said with the hosting of Asian Beach Kabaddi Championship in August this year and World Cup it would help promoting sporting culture in Pakistan at one hand and on the other convey a message of peace to the rest of the world.
While appreciating the present government he said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has included sports in its priorities by sensing the importance of sports and extending PKF all out support for holding international events in Pakistan.
He specially named Lt. Gen Omar Mehmood Hayat, Chairman POF, who extended all out support to the Federation for holding Asian Kabaddi Championship.
He said the team will be in good form well before the forthcoming 5th Asian Beach Games to be schedule from Sept 24 to Oct 3, 2016 at Vietnam’s popular tourist destination Nha Trang.
Pakistan players will also going to take part in Kabaddi Primer League (KPL) India which carries a budget of 2200 million besides this we are sending 20 players for the Asia Circle Style Canadian Club League Kabaddi.
He said meeting of the International Kabaddi Federation will be held in South Korea in August this year and hopefully Pakistan would come up as a successful candidate for hosting the World Cup next year.