Pakistan, one of the top contenders in the Kabaddi World Cup 2016, were not invited by India to participate in the event in the aftermath of the Uri attack and the events which followed. Not taken lightly by the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF), they have mentioned the event be postponed to a later date. They have now asked the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) to look into the matter.
The tournament is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, India, from October 7 to 22.
"It is a major question mark on the tournament if Pakistan is not competing," said PKF Secretary Muhammad Sarwar to Pakistani newspaper Tribune on Monday. "Pakistan and India are the strongest teams at the World Cup and it is sad that because of strained relations between the two countries, we have to suffer."
"It would have been a great experience to face India on their home ground," Sarwar added. "Our players won the Asia Kabaddi Cup at home and then defeated India at a neutral venue in Vietnam, so winning the World Cup in India would've been a great feat."
The Pakistan team, the reigning Asian champions in Kabaddi, were not issued visas by the Indian embassy and therefore, they are not a part of the eight-team event.
