Iranian kabaddi team officials meet sports minister: 40th National Kabaddi C’ship begins today

LAHORE: The 40th National Kabaddi Championship will explode into action at cycling velodrome, Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Feb 28, 2018.

Neighbouring Iranian Kabaddi team will also take part in the 5-day National Kabaddi Championship being held with the collaboration of Sports Board Punjab (SBP), this was stated by Deputy Director SBP Hafeez Bhatti and Secretary Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) Rana Sarwar while addressing a press conference at National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.

Vice-President Iranian Kabaddi Federation Majid Bahrami, PKF Vice-President Ramzan Ghumman, sponsor Muhammad Mubeen and members of Iranian kabaddi team were also present on this occasion. Addressing the press conference Deputy Director Hafeez Bhatti said Sports Board Punjab has completed all the arrangements to hold National Kabaddi Championship in a befitting manner. “Kabaddi is our traditional game and Sports Board Punjab will continue to extend every kind of cooperation for the promotion of kabaddi,” he added. Bhatti said Pakistan has cordial relations with Iran and the visit of their kabaddi team will be very beneficial for Pakistan players.

PKF Secretary Rana Sarwar and Vice-President Ramzan Ghumman lauded the role of SBP for the growth of sports in the Punjab province. PKF Secretary Rana Sarwar said that the teams from eight affiliated departments, four provinces and Islamabad will vie for top honours in the mega event. “Iranian kabaddi team is also participating in the championship on our invitation. The guest team will play only exhibition matches and they will be given medals separately. Iranian kabaddi team will play its first match against Punjab team on Feb 28,” he elaborated.

Vice-President Iranian Kabaddi Federation Majid Bahrami, on this occasion, said: “Pakistan is our second home. We learn our kabaddi from Pakistan and our players will improve their kabaddi skills after this tour,” he explained.

“Pakistan people are very sincere and sports loving. Punjab govt has made excellent security and other arrangements during our stay in Pakistan,” Vice-President Iranian Kabaddi Federation Majid Bahrami further stated.

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Sports Jahangir Khanzada has said that Pakistan and Iran have historic relations between them since long and these relations will be strengthened with the passage of time, he expressed these views while talking to Iranian Kabaddi team at his office on Tuesday.

Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) Secretary Rana Sarwar, Vice-President Ramzan Ghumman and Director Admin Javed Rasheed Chohan were also present on this occasion. Welcoming the guest team, Khanzada said Iran has a respectable place in the field of sports at international level especially in gymnastics, wrestling and football.

“We want to enhance cooperation with Iran in the field of sports and definitely it will be a great platform for players from either side,” he added. Khanzada expressed his hope that Iran kabaddi team will demonstrate glorious performance in the 40th National Kabaddi Championship scheduled to be staged at cycling velodrome, Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Feb 28, 2018.

Vice-President Iranian Kabaddi Federation Majid Bahrami thanked Punjab Minister for Sports Jahangir Khanzada for extending warm welcome and said: “Pakistan people have won our hearts. We can’t forget the love and respect we received in Pakistan”.