By A Correspondent
Patna: It is official. Bihar will host the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025 in Rajgir from June 1 to June 10, 2025. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the event was signed at Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna on Saturday between Bihar State Sports Authority (BBSA) and Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI). This is for the second time Bihar is hosting the event. Bihar had previously hosted the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup in 2012, from March 1 to March 4, at the Patliputra Sports Complex.
BBSA, AKFI Sign MoU
On behalf of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, Federation General Secretary Jitendra Pransingh Thakur and Bihar State Sports Authority Director General-cum-Chief Executive Officer Raveendran Sankaran signed the MoU. Bihar State Sports Authority Director Ravindra Nath Choudhary, Sports Executive Anandi Kumar, Sports Department Assistant Director Sanjay Kumar, International Kabaddi Federation Director Tejaswi Singh Gehlot, and Bihar Kabaddi Association Chairman Kumar Vijay, along with other dignitaries, were present on the occasion.
Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team Captain Sonali Vishnu and Vice-Captain Pushpa Rana were also present on this historic occasion. Raveendran Sankaran, Director General of the Sports Authority, welcomed everyone by presenting insignias and robes.
Speaking on the occasion, Sankaran said that organising the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup for the second time in Bihar, from June 1 to June 10 in Rajgir, is a matter of great pride and joy for the state. Due to the cooperation and efforts aligned with the government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure, Bihar has earned the distinction of hosting numerous national and international competitions.
14 Countries Expected To Take Part
He said the teams from 14 countries, including India, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Holland, Japan, Poland, Argentina, Hungary, Germany, Kenya, and Uganda, are likely to participate in the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025, which will be held at the State Sports Academy in Rajgir.
He said the entry to the matches will be free for spectators; however, tickets must be obtained by registering online for a pass. For those unable to get a pass, arrangements will be made to view the matches on a big screen outside the venue.
Sankaran further said that the Bihar government is making all arrangements for players and officials including travel, food, and accommodation.
Indian Team Camp to Be Held in Rajgir
Sankaran requested the General Secretary of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, Jitendra Pransingh, to organise a 15-day training camp for the Indian team in Rajgir. This would help the Indian players acclimatise to the local environment, and also provide an opportunity for players from Bihar to train and learn alongside them. He also requested the appointment of qualified coaches and referees in Bihar to enhance the performance of local players at national and international levels.
General Secretary Jitendra Pransingh and International Kabaddi Federation Director Tejaswi Singh Gehlot, while expressing their happiness over Bihar’s growing achievements in the field of sports, assured full support for the development of Kabaddi in Bihar. Bihar’s team is already performing well at the junior level, and with improved training, is expected to excel at the senior level as well, they said.
