Kabaddi federation shortlists 20 players for Asian Indoor Games

LAHORE: Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) has shortlisted 20 players for the camp to prepare for the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Games which are pencilled in for November 21 to 30 in Bangkok and Chonburi.

“Yes, we have held trials and have shortlisted 20 players who will be trained by three coaches. We want to hold a camp and are waiting for the government’s green signal,” the PKF official told ‘The News’.

“We hope that the government will gives us a camp in Islamabad. But if it does not then we will try to hold it at any other place. Abbottabad may also be an option but the issue is that camp is usually costly there,” the official said.

Asked whether they also wanted foreign training, the official said that they might. “If the government backs us then we may but until now there is no such chance,” the official said. “Before the 2023 Hanzghou Asian Games we had toured Iran and China and that benefited us a lot and we won a medal,” the official said.

Sources in other federations told this correspondent that they also were waiting for the green signal relating to camps. They said that the government should take immediate steps to start the camps for the Thailand event.

As many as 5500 athletes are set to showcase their skills in 29 different disciplines in these Games which were originally scheduled for 2021. Last time these Games were organised by Turkmenistan in Ashgabat in 2017.