Minister of Sports Honors Women’s Kabaddi Team for Asian Championship Victory
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Synopsis
On March 11, the Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, praised the Indian women's kabaddi team for their victory in the 6th Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship and announced a cash prize of INR 67,50,000. He also proposed a women's kabaddi league to provide more opportunities for female athletes.
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya announced a cash award of INR 67,50,000 for the women's kabaddi team.
- The team successfully defended its title against Iran.
- A women's kabaddi league is in the works to enhance opportunities for female athletes.
- The Indian team showcased remarkable performance in the tournament.
- Support from the Ministry of Sports was crucial for the team's success.
New Delhi, March 11 (NationPress) The Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday discussed plans for initiating a women’s kabaddi league and declared a cash prize of INR 67,50,000 to honor the remarkable achievement of the Indian women's kabaddi team in the 6th Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship, which occurred from March 6 to 8 in Tehran.
Dr. Mandaviya recognized the Indian women's kabaddi team, which successfully defended its title by defeating the hosts Iran 32-25 on Saturday. This kabaddi tournament made its return after an 8-year break, the last edition being held in 2017 in Iran, where India triumphed over South Korea to claim the trophy. For securing the title for the fifth time, Dr. Mandaviya announced a cash award of INR 67,50,000 for the victorious team.
After the ceremony, the Sports Minister stated, "We will endeavor to support our female athletes. Following the men's league, we will establish a women's kabaddi league to provide women with more opportunities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes for our girls to receive equal opportunities in the development of Viksit Bharat.
He further noted, "During the Chintan Shivir in Hyderabad, we decided to involve the corporate sector to adopt a sport and extend the best financial backing, alongside opening academies where athletes can receive quality coaching. We, from the government, will strive to ensure this for Indigenous sports, including kabaddi."
Grouped with Thailand, Bangladesh, and Malaysia in Group A, India smoothly advanced to the finals, overcoming Bangladesh 64-23, Thailand 76-21, and Malaysia 73-19, topping their group with three wins and an impressive cumulative score difference of +150, as reported by the Ministry.
In the semifinal, the team easily defeated neighbors Nepal with a score of 56-18, leading to an exhilarating final against hosts Iran. In what proved to be their toughest match of the tournament, Team India emerged victorious with a score of 32-25. Notably, South Korea remains the only other nation to have won this tournament, clinching victory on home ground in 2016.
This achievement would not have been possible without the leadership of raider and captain Sonali Shingate, who expressed her appreciation for the backing the team received from the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs.
"This victory is dedicated to every member of our team who performed brilliantly to ensure our return as champions. The support from the Ministry has played a critical role in our preparation. Our camp held at SAI Sonepat was essential to our success," she stated.
"We are also incredibly thankful for the prompt assistance from the Supreme Court, ensuring our team could prepare for this championship. We are pleased to have validated the trust placed in us. Now, we are eagerly looking forward to the Women's Kabaddi World Cup in Bihar this June," an elated Shingate expressed.
"This victory reinforces India's supremacy in kabaddi and highlights the growing prowess of our women athletes on the global stage. The AKFI is proud of this team's accomplishments and will continue to support their involvement in upcoming multi-nation tournaments organized by the International Kabaddi Federation and the Asian Kabaddi Federation," remarked Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, the Secretary-elect of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India.
He emphasized that the Indian team’s success at the 2025 Asian Women Kabaddi Championships, Tehran, served as an impressive rehearsal for the team, which also secured gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, as they gear up for the eagerly awaited Women's Kabaddi World Cup scheduled in Bihar in June 2025.
In this context, Vinod Tiwary, the President of the International Kabaddi Federation and Deputy Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, congratulated the Indian winning team.
“Countries affiliated with the IKF readily acknowledge India's significant role as a leader in kabaddi. We are deeply grateful to the Indian sports authorities and the Supreme Court for facilitating the participation of Indian women in the 2025 Asian Women Kabaddi Championships in Tehran,” said Tiwary.
