Dhaka: Bangladesh made a winning start in the 2nd Women’s Kabaddi World Cup by defeating Uganda with a score of 42-22 at the Shaheed Suhrawardi Indoor Stadium in Mirpur today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh initially took a narrow 14-12 lead at halftime in front of a packed gallery that had assembled following a vibrant opening ceremony. The fans filled the arena, enthusiastically chanting ‘Bangladesh! Bangladesh!’ as they cheered on players like Rupali and Smriti Akter, who played key roles in the team’s victory.
Uganda, making their first appearance on the World Cup stage, put up a commendable fight in the first half. Despite being physically stronger than the hosts, Uganda could not capitalize on their advantage as Bangladesh’s experience and tactics shone through. Smriti Akter, primarily a defender, was instrumental throughout the match, securing important raid points at crucial moments.
In the second half, Uganda remained competitive, even leveling the scores at one point. However, when Smriti Akter was the sole Bangladeshi player left on the court, she executed a pivotal do-or-die raid, eliminating two Ugandan players and shifting the momentum in Bangladesh’s favor. From that point, the hosts seized control of the game.
Bangladesh forced Uganda into two all-outs in the second half, significantly widening the margin. While Bangladesh scored 28 points after the break, Uganda managed only 10, leading to a decisive 42-22 victory for the hosts.
Following this impressive start, Bangladesh is set to face Germany in their second Group A match tomorrow at 5 pm, while Uganda will play against Thailand on Wednesday at the same venue.