ATTARI: The
kabaddi players from India, who had gone to Pakistan without permission from the national federation or the government to participate in the neighbouring country's first Kabaddi World Cup, returned on Monday and claimed that they had gone in their individual capacity.
They claimed that they did not require permission from any organisation in India since the event was a 'prize money' tournament dedicated to 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and not an 'official' one.
"All the players belong to different kabaddi clubs and had gone independently to play in the kabaddi tournament dedicated to the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev," said
Davinder Singh Bajwa
, who claims to be a kabaddi promoter.
However, Pakistan's World Cup billboards had no mention of Guru Nanak Dev on any of the posters and the tournament, described by the Indian kabaddi as 'unofficial', was inaugurated by Pakistan's
Punjab province chief minister
Usman Buzdar
. The province's governor
Chaudhary Mohammad Sarwar
was seen honouring the Indian kabaddi players at the end of the tournament.
Asked why they had not taken permission from
Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India
or the Union sports ministry, Bajwa said the players did not require any permission since they had not gone to Pakistan under the banner of any federation.
Rijiju asks for inquiryAMRITSAR: Sports minister
Kiren Rijiju on Monday ordered the national kabaddi federation to launch an inquiry into an "unauthorised" Indian team's participation in the circle style world cup in Pakistan.