For the fourth year running, the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation is organising the Bangabandhu International Cup Kabaddi tournament. Ahead of the tournament's kick-off on 26th May, the Kabaddi Federation held a press conference on Monday at the Bangladesh Olympic Association.
A total of twelve countries -- Poland from the Europe, Kenya and Uganda from Africa, Japan and South Korea from Asia, Iraq from the Middle East, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand from ASEAN and Nepal, Sri Lanka from South Asia and host Bangladesh from South Asia -- will participate in the tournament which will conclude on June 3 through the final match.
Former Bangladesh cricket captain and Treasury Bench Whip Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was present at the conference. He has previously attended Kabaddi events and reiterated the importance of promoting all sports in the country. He stated: "I always support all sports. You (the media) place greater emphasis on cricket, but other sports also deserve recognition."
Mashrafe elaborated on the significance of other sports: "Australia wins the Cricket World Cup, but it doesn't gain global recognition. If we could win an Olympic medal, the whole world would acknowledge us. That would be a truly remarkable achievement. Winning an Olympic medal is far more prestigious than winning the Cricket World Cup."
The Olympics represent a major aspiration for Bangladesh. Outside of South Asia, Bangladesh has achieved international success in very few sports. Boxer Mohammad Ali [likely referring to Mohammed Hanif or Mohammed Alam] secured a bronze medal at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, which remains Bangladesh's greatest sporting achievement to date. Mashrafe is aware of the Olympic scenario, stating: "Cricket isn't the biggest sport; the Olympics is the pinnacle of sport worldwide. Currently, we're being knocked out in the heats. We need to progress from the heats to the finals and then contend for medals."
Beyond cricket and football, players in other Bangladeshi sports face significant financial hardship. Many federations also struggle to provide adequate financial support to their athletes.
Mashrafe, a former national cricket captain, is currently a two-time Member of Parliament and the Government Whip. He also sits on the Parliamentary Standing Committee for the Ministry of Sports. In his address, he placed more responsibility on the media and sports federations, rather than himself, to improve opportunities and capabilities for athletes.
He commented: "If any issues arise within the parliamentary committee, I will certainly discuss them and endeavour to do what I can. You (the media) can play a vital role in promoting other sports. For instance, your presence here today at the Kabaddi event signifies that you are acknowledging its importance. Essentially, everything requires collaboration. Investment in sports is crucial. To attract investment, focus is needed, and that focus is on you (the media). With proper focus, sponsors will be drawn in. The cricket board has financial resources, while other federations do not. If facilities are provided, players will emerge. Regular training and support structures for injuries are also essential. Once these elements are in place, other sports will flourish, just like what is happening with Kabaddi."
Speaking also in the press conference BKF president Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said: "Our efforts to develop Kabaddi through various programs are continuing. Along with this, we are making our national game kabaddi popular in the world landscape, our efforts are underway to make a separate kabaddi complex in Dhaka. We have already proposed to the Ministry of Sports in this regard."
