A major controversy has erupted regarding the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 currently underway in Britain. The International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) has declared the tournament unauthorized and unacceptable.
Sports News: The Kabaddi World Cup 2025 is being held in West Midlands, England, from March 17th to 23rd. This tournament is organized by the England Kabaddi Federation and the British Kabaddi League under the aegis of the World Kabaddi Federation (WKF), which operates as a parallel global governing body for the sport.
However, the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) also holds its own Kabaddi World Cup, resulting in fans witnessing two separate World Cups.
Why the Controversy?
The controversy escalated when it was revealed that the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 is being conducted under the supervision of the World Kabaddi Federation (WKF), which lacks IKF recognition. The IKF is considered the authorized international kabaddi body by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF), while the WKF lacks global recognition.
Consequently, the IKF has declared the tournament illegal and instructed the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) to take appropriate action against any participating Indian team.
Potential Ban on the Indian Team?
IKF chief Vinod Kumar Tiwari stated that the Indian team participating in this tournament lacked official authorization from the AKFI or the Ministry of Sports. The team's legitimacy is therefore questionable. A similar incident occurred in 2020 when an Indian team participated in a Kabaddi World Cup held in Pakistan, a participation that was rejected by the AKFI. This led to a major crisis regarding the administrative aspects of kabaddi in India.
Potential Implications?
The IKF has hinted that if the AKFI does not take this issue seriously, India may face a ban from participating in official international tournaments. Players participating in this unauthorized tournament could be banned from future kabaddi leagues and international events in India.
The AKFI is already under a ban for failing to hold elections in 2024, and this matter could further weaken its position. While no official statement has been released by the AKFI, sources indicate that the federation is investigating the matter and a decision is expected soon. Continued silence from the AKFI could exacerbate this controversy.
