Secretary General of the Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) and the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF),Muhammad Sarwar Rana. Photo : collected

DHAKA, Nov 20, 2025 (BSS)- Muhammad Sarwar Rana, Secretary General of the 
Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) and the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF), who 
has just arrived in Dhaka to witness the ongoing 2nd Women's Kabaddi World 
Cup, expressed that the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF) is in safe hands.

He made the remark after watching a couple of matches on the fourth day of 
the event at the Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur today 
(Thursday).

He also shared his observations on the ongoing tournament, organised by BKF, 
as well as outlined AKF's plans to host international friendly matches and 
regional events. 

Question: Bangladesh is hosting the Kabaddi World Cup for the first time. How 
are the arrangements here? What have you observed?

Answer: The arrangements were outstanding - truly at the level of a World 
Cup, if not even better. Bangladesh has shown that it's fully capable of 
hosting major kabaddi events in the future. I sincerely appreciate and 
congratulate the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation for the incredible work 
they've done. Everything was amazing, no doubt. I was genuinely happy, and 
honestly, I hadn't expected Bangladesh to pull this off so impressively - but 
they proved it.

They proved themselves on both fronts: organisational excellence and strong 
team preparation. It's clear that the BKF is now in safe, capable hands. And 
when I saw the posters at the hotel, airport, and venue, I also learned 
during this tournament that Kabaddi is the national game of Bangladesh. That 
makes the federation's direction and efforts even more meaningful. I 
congratulate them once again - they have truly done an extraordinary job.

Question: Is there anything special in these arrangements that impressed you 
the most? Or do you have any recommendations for the hosts, the Bangladesh 
Kabaddi Federation?
 
Answer: I noticed the changes right away. Today was my first day here, and I 
couldn't attend the opening because my daughter-in-law was giving birth - it 
was the first delivery in our family, so I had to be there. Honestly, I 
thought the opening would be casual like before, but things have definitely 
leveled up. The management, administration, and the federation are all 
working in line with the updated standards of modern Kabaddi.

Question: Congratulations on the new member of your family. Only 11 teams are 
playing in this edition of the Kabaddi World Cup. Do you think these 
arrangements will attract more countries to come and compete here?

Answer: Thank you very much, I received a grandson.Alhamdulillah, with the 
blessing of Almighty Allah. Yes, we can. It was simply one thing remaining: 
that simply induct four or three or five or six teams. The level is already 
better than before, better than other World Cups. It is wonderful, amazing, 
no doubt. And I congratulate the Ministry of Sports who chose this team. 
Nobody could imagine that Bangladesh is capable of conducting this kind of 
event. But your federation has, your management, the team working behind 
Kabaddi in Bangladesh currently - they proved their skill, their dedication, 
their zeal to improve this game. 

Question: Only three South Asian teams are playing this time - India, Nepal 
and Bangladesh - although the region has more teams. Even Pakistan is not 
participating.

Answer: Yes, we (Pakistan team) wanted to come here. I am from Pakistan, I am 
the Secretary of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation. But we are busy with the 
Bahrain Games and due to the shortage of time. After this tournament, we will 
invite Bangladesh to Pakistan. And we will also visit Bangladesh soon after 
this tournament. Our team was busy with the National Games, the dates 
clashed. So, our girls, our team, our federation, they love to come to 
Bangladesh.

Question : Do you have any plans to host a regional event in South Asia, 
similar to SAFF football?

Answer: Yes, we have proof now. In fact, Bangladesh proved it. There should 
be more events in this country. And I fully support in future because the 
level of organisation, the level of sports-loving people also - they are 
involved - and your media team is... wonderful job, every side is excellent.

Question : Who will be the champions? What is your prediction?

Answer: Currently India this time, because India have been working for a long 
time. They have a professional league too. Even their women are playing for a 
long time. Pakistan was just two or three years before they started. 
Bangladesh ten years ago, I think, maybe. But Indians have been playing for 
more than 100 years - their women are playing. But day by day, teams are 
coming closer to each other. Then it will be dependent on luck in the future 
who will be the winner. But here, India are favourites.

Question: Only the second World Cup in 13 years - when will the next one take 
place?

Answer: There were problems. Our regional federations had problems. I don't 
want to take any name, but now that has been resolved and kabaddi is in a 
take-off position. Now we will issue the four-year calendar and we'll try to 
comply with that, Insha'Allah.

Question: This year European teams like Poland and Germany are participating, 
and even African teams. Do you have a plan to popularise this game worldwide?

Answer: Yes, we have plans. We have plan for good mega kabaddi events, to 
conduct mega kabaddi events in different parts - like Bangladesh, like 
Europe, like Africa, and like Iran, Pakistan. So, we will invite them. They 
are newly arrived, these European teams. But, you know, their sports 
infrastructure is better than Asian and African and other continental sports. 
So, they will shortly learn this game and they will compete with the best 
teams.