The Indian team's arrival in Pakistan for the World Kabaddi Championship has sparked controversy as the Sports Minister and the National Federation claimed that they did not allow any athletes to participate in the neighboring country. The team from India reached Lahore on Saturday via the Wagah border to participate in the championship, which is being held in Pakistan for the first time. Photographs and footage of Indians arriving in Lahore are coming on social media. The tournament will begin at the Punjab Football Stadium in Lahore from Monday. Some matches will be played in Faisalabad and Gujarat. Sources in the Sports Ministry said that the government has not allowed any athletes to visit Pakistan for the tournament.
The Sports Ministry source said, "The Ministry of Sports and Ministry of External Affairs have not given permission to any team which is mandatory to represent the country in any international competition." Indian Amateur Kabaddi Federation (AKFI) Administrator Judge (Retd) SP Garg also said that the national body has not approved any team. He said, 'We have no information about any Kabaddi team going to Pakistan. No permission was given by AKFI to any team to go to Pakistan and play kabaddi matches there. The source said, "We came to know only when information about this was sought. AKFI does not support such activity. Legal action should be taken against those who do so."
In the process of participation in foreign competitions, the National Federation informs the Sports Ministry, which writes to the Ministry of External Affairs for political approval and the Ministry of Home Affairs for security clearance, regardless of whether the government is incurring the cost of the team. Pakistan Punjab Sports Minister Rai Timur Khan Bhatti welcomed the Indian contingent to the hotel in Lahore. Officials of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation welcomed the Indian players wearing a garland after reaching Pakistan from the Wagah border, after which they were escorted to the hotel in Lahore under security.
