Bangabandhu Cup 2024 International Kabaddi begins Sunday

 
The 12-nation Bangabandhu Cup' 2024 International Kabaddi Tournament, named after father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, begins here on Sunday at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in Mirpur.

Minister for Youth and Sports Nazmul Hasan Papon MP will inaugurate the nine-day meet Sunday afternoon through an opening ceremony, to be chaired by President of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF) and Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.

Twelve countries from the three continents --- Europe, Africa and Asia --will participate in the 4th edition of the tournament, organised by Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF). Participating countries are: Poland ,Kenya, Uganda, Japan, South Korea, Iraq, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh. The trophy unveiling ceremony of the tournament in presence of the captains of 12 participating countries was held Saturday afternoon at the tournament venue-- Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in Mirpur. Last three times champions and hosts Bangladesh will play last two World Cup semifinalists South Korea in one of the four opening day's matches, will kick-off at 4:pm on Sunday.

Nepal will face Malaysia at 5: pm, Japan will meet Iraq at 6 pm while Thailand will encounter Uganda at 7 pm in the other opening day's fixture.
Meanwhile, all the foreign teams have already arrived in Dhaka to participate in the meet.

Japan, South Korea and Uganda are participating in the tournament for the first time. The grouping and fixtures of the meet was also finalized in the manager's meeting on Saturday (May 25). On completion of the group matches on June 1, the top two teams from each of the groups will play semifinal on June 2. The tournament will conclude on June 3 with the final match. The journey of Bangabandhu Cup International Kabaddi started in 2021 with six countries on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the crisis of global epidemic COVID-19.

 Then in 2022, eight countries including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, England, Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia and host Bangladesh participated in the second edition. A record twelve countries participated in the third edition held in 2023.

 Bangladesh emerged champions in all three editions, led by Bangladesh Kabaddi team skipper Tuhin Tarafdar.
The tournament in the international arena now carries special importance in the calendar of the International Kabaddi Federation. This tournament is also considered as the qualifying round of the World Cup.

 The last three events were held at Shaheed Noor Hossain Volleyball Stadium but this time the fourth edition of this tournament will be held at new venue Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium at Mirpur. BKF has already completed all preparations to make the tournament a success.
 Hosts Bangladesh, the hat-trick champions of the last three seasons, have been continued their preparations for the tournament since February 8 last keeping their eyes on the title.

The host side showed the achievement of winning the prestigious title in an int'l tournament for the first time defeating Kenya.
Bangladesh again beat Kenya in the final and became champions for the second occasion held in 2022.

 However, Bangladesh won the hat-trick title by defeating Chinese Taipei last year.
Groupings:

Group A -Bangladesh, Nepal, Poland, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea.
Group B - Iraq, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda and Japan.