Cross-border showdown: Pakistan to invite India for kabaddi series at Kartarpur

In a groundbreaking move, the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) is set to extend an olive branch to arch-rivals India, inviting them for a highly-anticipated kabaddi series in April.

According to well-placed sources, the tournament is likely to take place at the iconic Kartarpur corridor, a symbol of peace and harmony between the two nations.

This historic encounter promises to be a thrilling clash of titans, as the two kabaddi powerhouses face off in a battle of strength, strategy, and skill.

When asked that India has recently refused to visit Pakistan for an international friendly in Kartarpur in November, the source said this time they will come.

“I will let you know what had happened but we have planned to invite them again and this time they will definitely visit to play against Pakistan,” the source said.

The source said that it will be a three-match series and every arrangement will be made to ensure the touring party also visits the religious spots in Pakistan.

“We will make it happen inshaAllah and they will be given top hospitality,” the source said.

Pakistan had made full arrangements to host India at the Kartarpur corridor on November 19, 2024, but at the eleventh hour they refused to visit for the friendly.

The match had been planned on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

Pakistan had held a proper camp for the friendly. It was expected that it would pull a huge crowd as Sikh community from both India and Pakistan was excited to witness both arch-rivals facing each other after a long time.

The cancellation of the game at the eleventh hour had hugely upset Sikh community.

It is the Sikh community which is hugely backing kabaddi not only in the sub-continent but they have also established major clubs in Europe, America and Canada. They arrange top level leagues which attract quality players from around the world especially from Indian and Pakistani Punjab which is the hub of kabaddi talent.

Both India and Pakistan had last faced each other in the circle style Kabaddi World Cup held in Lahore in 2020 which Pakistan had won by beating India.

This was the first title win for Pakistan in the history of circle style kabaddi World Cup.

Will Indian team travel to Pakistan?

During recent months India’s stance relating to sending its teams to Pakistan has been too rigorous.

Barring cricket which is always a hot issue between the two nations, India did not allow its blind cricket team to feature in the Blind Cricket World Cup which Pakistan hosted at Lahore and Multan recently. And not sending kabaddi team also dashed Pakistan’s entire preparation plans for the Kartarpur match.

In circle style both India and Pakistan reigned supreme for decades.

However, in the Asian style, Iran has developed a lot. Iran has solely focused on mat kabaddi and it is investing a lot in the genre of this sport which has helped it in return to pose challenge now to both India and Pakistan which are the pioneers of kabaddi.

Since featuring in the 2020 Lahore World Cup, Pakistan circle style kabaddi players have not got any further international exposure which has damaged the spirit of the players.

However, some of the top players in this style have got opportunities to feature in leagues around the world during this barren period.

In the Asian style, Pakistan got an opportunity to feature in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou where the Green Shirts finished with a bronze. In the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta too Pakistan had lifted bronze.

In beach Kabaddi World Cup held last year in Iran, Pakistan had finished with a silver medal when they went down to Iran in the final. India had not featured in this event due to ban imposed on its kabaddi team by the Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) for adhoc committee’s failure to hand over the charge to the elected body.