•••║► Kabaddi World Cup ◄║••• India Won kabaddi World cup 2016

The 2016 IKF Kabaddi World Cup, being organised[1] by International Kabaddi Federation, will kick off on October 7[2] and will be structured in such a way that the 12 international teams from across Olympic geographies will be divided into 2 pools of 6 teams each. The teams will play in a fortnight long tournament in a round robin league round format, followed by semi-finals and an exciting final on Oct 22, 2016. All its matches will be held in Ahmedabad at the brand new state-of-the-art stadium, The Arena by TransStadia.[3][4] The tournament will feature 12 teams, namely United States of America, England, Australia, Iran, Poland, Thailand, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan, Argentina and Kenya.

 

OFFICIAL LOGO OF THE 2016 KABADDI WORLD CUP LAUNCHED IN NEW DELHI

The official logo of the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup was revealed today in New Delhi with much fanfare, amongst the presence of esteemed guests such as Shri Vijay Goel, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and JS Gehlot, President, International Kabaddi Federation (IKF). Also present at the event were eminent sports expert Charu Sharma and Indian Kabaddi star Anup Kumar.

It was Shri Vijay Goel who unveiled the logo for the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup on stage. Deriving from the natural heritage of Gujarat, the logo symbolizes the ferocity of a Kabaddi defender and the agility of a raider. The lion has been a symbol of bravery for thousands of years, appearing in cultures across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The lion in the logo pays homage to the Asiatic lions of Gir region in Gujarat, the host state of the tournament.

The colourful mane of the lion, with 7 strands, is symbolic of the fact that teams/athletes from all parts of the world will take part in this World Cup.

Commenting on the occasion, Shri Vijay Goel said, “It is the perfect time to highlight the giant leaps that Kabaddi has taken over the past few years to propel the sport on the path of global recognition.

“I am extremely happy to see Kabaddi going global across Olympic geographies through the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.”

The tournament groups as well as the full schedule were revealed at the event, while ticket sales for the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup also kick-started today and are available on bookmyshow.com.

So come on over to Ahmedabad to witness the grandeur of the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup - ‘The World is Ready to Raid.’

 

TEAMS, GROUPS & SCHEDULE OF THE 2016 KABADDI WORLD CUP ANNOUNCED!

The full schedule of the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup was announced on 14th September 2016 in New Delhi, in an event attended by the likes of Shri Vijay Goel, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and JS Gehlot, President, International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), as well as Indian kabaddi star Anup Kumar.

The Indian national team will compete with 11 other countries - USA, England, Australia, Iran, Poland, Thailand, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan, Argentina and Kenya – at the tournament, in a Kabaddi extravaganza, starting 7th October, that will have representation from all five Olympic geographies. All matches will be held in Ahmedabad at the brand new state-of-the-art stadium, The Arena by TransStadia.

The 12 teams will be split into two groups of 6 teams each, who will play each other in a round robin league round format, followed by two semi-finals and the final on 22nd October.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vijay Goel spoke of his pride at India hosting another world tournament. He said, “We had the 2016 WT20 in March and organised the South Asian Games successfully in Feb 2016. We are holding BRICS Football in October 2016 & the FIFA under-17 World Cup in 2017. And now, the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, yet another sporting event of an international stature and scale.

"It is the perfect time to highlight the giant leaps that Kabaddi has taken over the past few years to propel the sport on the path of global recognition."

Mr. Gehlot also spoke about how kabaddi is catching the eye globally, and added, "Every successful global sport has a marquee international event. With the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, the International Kabaddi Federation aims to establish a global property for our home-grown Kabaddi. This is the most opportune moment for Kabaddi to gain much deserved recognition and appreciation at the global stage."

Star Sports will be the official broadcaster of the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. All matches will be telecast exclusively on the Star Sports network and hotstar. Ticket sales for the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup also opened today, on bookmyshow.com.

 

Friday 7 October, 20:00 hrs IST: India vs South Korea
Friday 7 October, 21:00 hrs IST: USA vs Iran
Saturday 8 October, 19:00 hrs IST: England vs Bangladesh
Saturday 8 October, 20:00 hrs IST: Poland vs Kenya
Saturday 8 October, 21:00 hrs IST: India vs Australia
Sunday 9 October, 19:00 hrs IST: Argentina vs South Korea
Sunday 9 October, 20:00 hrs IST: United States vs Japan
Sunday 9 October, 21:00 hrs IST: Iran vs Thailand
Monday 10 October, 20:00 hrs IST: England vs Australia
Monday 10 October, 21:00 IST hrs IST: Poland vs Thailand
Tuesday 11 October, 20:00 hrs IST: Iran vs Kenya
Tuesday 11 October, 21:00 hrs IST: India vs Bangladesh
Wednesday 12 October, 21:00 hrs IST: Australia vs Argentina
Thursday 13 October, 20:00 hrs IST: Thailand vs Kenya
Thursday 13 October, 21:00 hrs IST: Bangladesh vs South Korea
Friday 14 October, 20:00 hrs IST: England vs Argentina
Friday 14 October, 21:00 hrs IST: United States vs Poland
Saturday 15 October, 19:00 hrs IST: South Korea vs Australia
Saturday 15 October, 20:00 hrs IST: Japan vs Iran
Saturday 15 October, 21:00 hrs IST: India vs Argentina
Sunday 16 October, 19:00 hrs IST: Thailand vs United States
Sunday 16 October, 20:00 hrs IST: South Korea vs England
Sunday 16 October, 21:00 hrs IST: Japan vs Kenya
Monday 17 October, 20:00 hrs IST: Poland vs Iran
Monday 17 October, 21:00 hrs IST: Australia vs Bangladesh
Tuesday 18 October, 20:00 hrs IST: United States vs Kenya
Tuesday 18 October, 21:00 hrs IST: India vs England
Wednesday 19 October, 20:00 hrs IST: Bangladesh vs Argentina
Wednesday 19 October, 21:00 hrs IST: Thailand vs Japan

Semifinals:

Friday 21 October, 20:00 hrs IST: TBA vs TBA
Friday 21 October, 21:00 hrs IST: TBA vs TBA

Final:

Saturday 22 October, 21:00 hrs IST: TBA vs TBA

 

With the Kabaddi World Cup on the horizon, let’s dive deeper into the sport’s history and how it came into the prominence it has gained today.

When one hears the chants of “Kabaddi Kabaddi” in India and when you get there to watch it, you will notice the intense use of physical prowess by the players. The game, as it progresses, gets entertaining and aggressive as each team tries to get the better of the other by gaining maximum points to win it. With cultural and physical importance resting upon it, Kabaddi in India is recognized as a state sport in several Indian states while it’s a national game in a few countries. it is clear to us visually that it is a hard-bodied contact sport, where only the toughest and the fittest survive the rigours of the game.

While kabaddi has been around for years and popular in traditional pockets, it recently garnered a great deal of interest and commercial prominence with the inception of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, a league in India that has revolutionized the way we view the exciting sport.

Here, we look briefly at the history of kabaddi, which may answer questions one may have about the sport.

While it is still unknown how the name ‘Kabaddi’ came into existence, the origin of the game dates back to prehistoric times played in different forms. Primarily of Indian origin, the sport is known differently across the country – like Hu-Tu-Tu and Ha-Do-Do in western and eastern India respectively, while in Southern India, it’s known as Chedugudu. With different names, the styles differed too and the kabaddi of today is a synthesis of these various styles. The game was played with a view to improve the physical and mental state.

One player chanting “Kabaddi!!! Kabaddi!!!! Kabaddi!!!!” charges into the opponent’s court and tries to touch the opponent closest to him, while the seven opponents manoeuvre to catch the raider. This is kabaddi, the match of one against seven, known as the game of struggle.

The players on the defensive side are called “Antis” while the player of the offence is called the “Raider”. The attack in kabaddi is known as a ‘Raid’. The antis touched by the raider during the attack are declared ‘out’ if they do not succeed in catching the raider before he returns to the home court. These players can resume play only when their side scores points against the opposite side during their raiding turn or if the remaining players succeed in catching the opponent’s raider.

The first time kabaddi received international recognition was when it was demonstrated as a sport at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Since then, the game in India gradually evolved but across the world, it was picked up at a slower pace – with the First Asian Championships held only in 1980. The game was included in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games from 1984 at Dhaka, Bangladesh. Kabaddi was included as a discipline at the 11th Asian Games Beijing in 1990 and India won the lone Gold Medal in Kabaddi. India has been the reigning champion ever since and created history in Indian sports by winning five consecutive Gold medals in the Asian Games.

In the upcoming Kabaddi World Cup at Ahmedabad, 12 countries will be participating and that number adds to the distinction of the sport, giving the world a great opportunity to script a new page in the history of the sport. The competition is formidable and the teams will be raring to go in a bid to create history.

With the right focus and investment in the sport, the future of kabaddi is surely worth looking forward to. We wish all the 2016 World Cup participants a great tournament!

 

As selectors evaluate each player in the 26-man preliminary squad for the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, the majestic wealth of players that India has is pretty evident. The quality of players on offer is fantastic, but only 14 will make the final cut. We look at five players expected to be picked for Team India, and who could make a big impact at the tournament.

1. Anup Kumar: Captain Cool
   
   In recent years, Anup Kumar has grown in stature and has become almost synonymous with the game. A regular in the Indian team since 2006, he made his debut in the South Asian Games in Sri Lanka the same year. He is a tactical mastermind, a talisman and someone each kabaddi player and fan looks up to for inspiration. At the age of 32, Anup Kumar is in his prime, and will be central to India’s World Cup campaign.
   
   
2. Manjeet Chhillar: Aggression Personified
   
   An established star and a feared opponent in domestic and international kabaddi, Manjeet Chhillar is one of the best all-rounders in the game. His strength lies in his aggressive approach, especially during crunch games, which could give India an edge over the other teams. Chhillar has been a mainstay of the Indian Kabaddi team for many years, and is also an influential dressing room figure, who will provide India with the ammunition for a great campaign at the Kabaddi World Cup.
   
   
3. Rahul Chaudhari: The Golden Boy
   
   Rahul Chaudhari personifies everything a top-class kabaddi raider should be. Already a regular in the national team, his presence among more experienced players adds flair, and gives an edge to the attack. Usually composed in his raids, Chaudhari does his fair share of defending as well, although he still can’t be called an all-rounder. If he does play in the Starting 7, expect lots of entertainment!
   
   
4. Surender Nada / Mohit Chhillar: The Duo in Defence
   
   These are two players worth mentioning together. Surender Nada and Mohit Chhillar are key defensive players who have developed a solid partnership, rendering them un-droppable from any team they’re part of. The defensive duo rose together first in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi for U Mumba, and very recently moved to Bengaluru Bulls. A rock-solid Kabaddi World Cup campaign will help them make the defensive corner positions their own for the foreseeable future.
   
   
5. Sandeep Narwal: Dreaded Defender
   
   Speedy, aggressive, athletic and defensively strong, Sandeep Narwal’s energy levels are from another planet! He’s the kind of player who is hated by the opposition, and has the ability to outfox them at any moment. He won the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi Season 3 title with Patna Pirates, and impressed one and all with his individual performances. With him on the team sheet, raid and tackle points are a guarantee. Narwal is one of India’s biggest assets, and with him the team will be strong in attack as well as defence.
   

 

ABOUT AHMEDABAD
Ahmedabad, the host city of the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, is known to be one of the most culturally diverse and economically developed cities in India. In 2010, Forbes ranked Ahmedabad as one of the top-three fastest growing cities of the decade. Currently, the city is earmarked as one of the 100 cities to undergo Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Smart Cities Mission.

ABOUT ‘THE ARENA’
The Arena by TransStadia in the heart of Ahmedabad, Gujarat is the venue for all fixtures of the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup including the finale. It is a first-of-its-kind multi-purpose stadium in India with state-of-the-art facilities and was built as a Public Private Partnership project with the Department of Tourism and approved by the then Chief Minister, Narendra Modi (now the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India).

The Arena is planned to give fans and spectators enhanced comforts along with the highest standards of safety and security. This space will cater to 12 indoor sports, including Kabaddi.

GETTING TO ‘THE ARENA’
Ahmedabad is a well-connected city and reaching The Arena is quite easy. It is situated near Kankaria Lake, a prominent landmark itself and is easily accessible from other parts of the city via autorickshaws, buses and BRTS.

• Nearest bus depot: Geeta Mandir Bus Depot, 1.6 km to The Arena
• Nearest railway station: Kalupur Railway Station, 3.6 km to The Arena
• Nearest airport: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, 11 km drive to The Arena

 

INDIAN DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2016 KABADDI WORLD CUP ANNOUNCED

The Indian team for the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup was announced yesterday by Dr. Mrs. Mridul Bhadauria, President of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI). On this momentous day, the jersey of Team India for the tournament was unveiled too by iconic Indian cricketer and World Cup winning captain Mr. Kapil Dev.

The team for the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup is labelled India’s 'Dream Team', as India has been able to call upon incredibly talented players to fill every position in the side. Captaining this Dream Team for the World Cup is Anup Kumar. The raider and captain of U Mumba was the 'Most Valuable Player’ in Season 1 of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League. He brings with him a wealth of experience and exemplary leadership skills that have been known to influence the outcome of crucial games. Also in the team are the likes of Manjeet Chhillar, a behemoth in defence, and superstar raiders Rahul Chaudhari and Pardeep Narwal. With a star-studded line-up, the Dream Team is expected to put on a stellar show at this year’s edition of the World Cup.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Janardhan Singh Gehlot, President of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), said, "The 2016 Kabaddi World Cup marks a pioneering moment in the history of Kabaddi. World class teams will play in a world class arena and will be seen by fans across the world through world class television coverage. We are committed to nurturing the sport across the globe. We are delighted and proud to host teams from all five Olympic geographies."

The Indian Dream Team is sure to have excited quite a few fans of the national team, and speaking about the contingent, Dr. Mrs. Mridul Bhadauria added, "The team that we have in front of us today represents the best players from India in the world of Kabaddi. It is truly an Indian 'Dream Team’. AKFI is fully committed to IKF's objectives towards the growth of Kabaddi as a truly global sport and, the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup will be an important platform where the Indian team will give its absolute best!"

The national team coach for the Indian Kabaddi team, Mr. Balwan Singh, acknowledged the fierce competition for this year’s tournament, saying, "The training camp hosted in Ahmedabad involved rigorous training that helped us select the right set of players for the Indian squad. Our aim is to have a balanced team composition for the upcoming World Cup. We are expecting the tournament to be more competitive than ever this year. It will be the biggest challenge that the Indian team has faced in recent times."'


Anup Kumar, announced as the captain of the Indian Dream Team at the event, beamed, "I am extremely honoured to lead the country for the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. It’s every sportsperson’s dream to represent his or her country at a global stage. I’m proud of my team and we will all work towards bringing honour to India."

The complete Indian Dream Team for the tournament is displayed below:

PLAYER POSITION
Ajay Thakur Raider
Anup Kumar (C) Raider
Deepak Hooda Raider
Dharmaraj Cheralathan Defender
Jasvir Singh Raider
Kiran Parmar All-Rounder
Manjeet Chhillar All-Rounder
Mohit Chhillar Defender
Nitin Tomar All-Rounder
Pardeep Narwal Raider
Rahul Chaudhari Raider
Sandeep Narwal All-Rounder
Surender Nada Defender
Surjeet Defender
The 2016 Kabaddi World Cup in Ahmedabad is all set to bring nations belonging to diverse geographies – Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Poland, South Korea, Thailand and United States of America - to the home of Kabaddi. With the platform set for the world’s best to take on each other, the sport is all set to take its next big leap.

Star Sports will be the official broadcaster of the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. All matches will be telecast exclusively on the Star network and Hotstar.

 

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