In a respite for Indian kabaddi gamers, the worldwide governing physique of the game is about to raise suspension imposed on the nationwide federation subsequent month after the court-appointed administrator handed over the cost to the ‘elected physique’.
Ban on Indian kabaddi federation can be lifted subsequent month(@WolvesCouncil/X)
Worldwide Kabaddi Federation (IKF) President Vinod Kumar Tiwari advised PTI that the ban can be lifted after an govt council assembly scheduled subsequent month. The IKF had banned the Novice Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) in July final yr after the ‘elected physique’ was not allowed to take cost.
“The court-appointed administrator has handed over the charge to the AKFI office bearers who were elected in December 2023. The AKFI office bearers have started functioning from AKFI office at JLN Stadium,” Tiwari stated in an interview.
“So, the ban on AKFI will be lifted. We will have our executive board meeting (of the IKF) next month and the ban will be officially lifted.”
In a February 6 order, the Supreme Court docket had requested Justice (Retd.) S P Garg, the AKFI administrator, handy over management of the federation to the workplace bearers elected in December 2023.
The SC division bench had, nonetheless, clarified that it hadn’t recognised the elected physique of the federation but, however was passing the order to permit participation of Indian gamers within the senior Asian Kabaddi Championship-2025 scheduled in Iran from February 20 to 25.
The highest court docket handed the order after two nationwide Kabaddi gamers — Priyanka and Pooja — sought route to AKFI for sending them to Asian Kabaddi Championship in Iran.
Tiwari stated the IKF had already allowed the Indian gamers’ participation within the Asian Championships.
Earlier in 2019, the Delhi Excessive Court docket made Justice (Retd.) Garg because the AKFI administrator after quashing appointment of former federation chief Janardan Singh Gahlot as ‘Life President’ and election of his spouse as president.
Within the December 2023 elections held beneath the cost of Garg, Vibhor Vineet Jain was elected AKFI president and Jitendra Thakur as basic secretary. However the final result of the election was saved topic to a petition earlier than the Excessive Court docket.
That meant that Garg continued to be in command of the AKFI affairs, resulting in the ban imposed on the nationwide federation by the IKF.
‘It is for AKFI to take motion towards crew that took half in World Cup in UK’
Final week, the IKF declared that the Kabaddi World Cup being held in London isn’t an “authorised” occasion and requested the AKFI to behave towards the crew that had gone to participate within the match.
Kabaddi World Cup 2025 is being held within the West Midlands from March 17 to 23. The match is being hosted by the England Kabaddi Affiliation and the British Kabaddi League (BKL) beneath the aegis of World Kabaddi Federation, a parallel worldwide governing physique of the game.
“It’s a free world, so in a sense you can’t stop anybody from taking part in tournaments. But that World Cup is not recognised by the IKF and the Indian team that had gone was not send by AKFI. Only thing we can do is to send teams authorised by AKFI.
“It is for the AKFI to take motion towards the crew that had gone to England for the unauthorised World Cup.”
Tiwari, who is also Deputy Director General of Olympic Council of Asia, admitted that things also got worse after the AKFI remained inactive for the past many years.
“We did errors additionally, now we have not held any match within the final eight years. The fulcrum of kabaddi (on the planet) is India however there have been no nationwide championships or World or Asian championships in India as AKFI has been run by a court-appointed administrator.
“But things will get back to normal from now onwards. We will conduct 2-3 World Championships consecutively.”
IKF planning to stage PKL type kabaddi leagues in Qatar, Thailand
Tiwari stated the IKF is planning to start leagues in Qatar and Thailand this yr to unfold the game with an purpose to incorporate it within the Olympics in future.
“Wherever there are Indians, kabaddi is popular. But we are trying to spread the sport to other countries and areas. That is important to popularise the sport if we have to take it to the Olympics.
“We’re in dialogue to have a masters championships in Qatar involving 7-8 groups. We’re additionally beginning a league in Thailand to be competed amongst gamers of South East Asia. All these can be franchise-based leagues and almost definitely beginning this yr.”
Requested about doubtless franchise house owners, he stated most of them can be from India.