India’s kabaddi governing body (AKFI), Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and government on Monday disowned their kabaddi team featuring in the Kabaddi World Cup (circle style) being held in Pakistan.
An AKFI press release says, “AKFI has no information about any kabaddi team to have gone to Pakistan. No permission was ever granted by AKFI to any team to go to Pakistan and play any kabaddi match there.” AKFI is administered by former Delhi High Court judge SP Grag. India’s sports ministry has also said that the government did not grant permission to any athlete to travel to Pakistan.
Then how did the team come to Pakistan?
India’s team reached Lahore via Wagah border on Saturday to feature in the nine-nation global event which kicked-off on Sunday with Pakistan and Iran registering wins over Canada and Sierra Leone, respectively, on the opening day at Punjab Stadium. Meanwhile, Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) chief Narinder Batra said on Monday that the team which reached Lahore on Saturday was not an official one from the country and hence could not claim to represent India.