MELAKA: Participants from five countries will be in Melaka for an inaugural World Cup Kabaddi next year. It is the first Malaysian state to host such an event.
Some 1,000 participants from Canada, Mauritius, Egypt, Australia, Kenya and India, comprising both men and women, will compete for the coveted trophy.
Yang-di Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob said he was very impressed with the sport.
He said this when representatives from Malaysia Kabaddi Federation visited him at his official residence to explain about the sport.
“It is a simple game but requires a lot of stamina. It is also mentally challenging as teams need to strategise the most effective way to gain the upper hand.”
Mohd Khalil said the state government must be prepared for the influx of tourists as the tournament will be held from April 2 to April 15 next year which also coincides with Visit Melaka Year.
About 146 matches will be played and organisers are in the final stages of preparing to broadcast the matches in Malaysia and overseas.
Kabaddi which can be traced back to its Indian roots is currently seeing a surge in popularity.
The mass group game has two teams occupying opposite sides of the arena. Each team will send a raider to win points by either tagging or wrestling the opposing team members and returning to his own half.
Mohd Khalil also officially launched the World Cup Kabaddi at a hotel in Ujong Pasir which was attended by World Kabaddi vice-president Jagjit Singh and state Health and Anti Drug committee chairman Low Chee Leong.
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