Mirpur: The 2nd Women's Kabaddi World Cup, the largest event in women's kabaddi, is set to commence on Monday, November 17, at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Mirpur, as part of the Festival of Youth 2025. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan is slated to inaugurate the World Cup.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation (BKF) has made comprehensive preparations to ensure the success of the World Cup. Teams from participating countries have already started arriving in the capital. This event marks a significant return after a 13-year hiatus since the first edition in 2012, held in Patna, India.
Eleven countries, including host Bangladesh, defending champions India, Chinese Taipei, Germany, Iran, Kenya, Nepal, Poland, Thailand, Uganda, and Zanzibar, will compete in the event. Argentina withdrew from the tournament at the last moment. The final is scheduled for November 24, with matches available for live streaming on State-owned Bangladesh Television, T-sports, and an OTT platform.
BKF General Secretary SM Newaz Shohag announced at a press conference that Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus would unveil the World Cup trophy on Sunday at the State Guest House Jamuna, alongside the captains of the participating nations. He also mentioned that players will be staying at Hotel Regency, the BKF's hospitality partner, and the fixture will be revealed after a managers' meeting. The competition will feature a pool system with eleven teams divided into two groups.
Shohag highlighted Bangladesh's potential to improve its ranking through the World Cup, citing the women's team's recent performance during a tour in Nepal. He expressed confidence that the team would continue their strong showing during the World Cup.
Addressing player safety, Shohag assured that security measures have been prioritized, including the appointment of a woman liaison officer for the teams. He also expressed gratitude for the support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, government offices, and sponsors.
Ahead of the event, the Bangladesh women's kabaddi team has been training under coaches Shahnaz Parveen Maleka and Arduzzaman Munshi at BKSP in Savar. In the previous edition, Bangladesh was eliminated by Japan in the quarterfinals, with India claiming the championship and Iran as runners-up.