look news india
New Delhi, Aug 26 (HS). Polish players set to compete in the upcoming Global Overseas Women's Kabaddi League (GPKL) in India have expressed great excitement about their participation.
Last week, PM Modi was in Poland to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During his keynote address, he described Kabaddi as a common thread between the two countries.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi had said, “We are connected through the sport of Kabaddi. This sport reached Poland through India and they took it to great heights. Poland is going to host the Kabaddi Championship for the first time. I would like to wish their team all the best.”
India is all set to host the GPKL, an unprecedented tournament to be held in the national capital region. The event will see women kabaddi players from over 15 countries participating in its first season, with Poland being one of the major participants. Apart from Poland, athletes from diverse backgrounds including countries like England, Argentina, Canada and Italy have expressed interest in participating in the competition.
Polish players have consistently expressed their gratitude to India for introducing Kabaddi to their country.
Kanthi D Suresh, president of Holistic International Pravasi Sports Association (Hipsa), the main body behind organising the GPKL, confirmed the participation of women players from Poland along with women from other European countries.
He emphasised on the goal of reaching participation from 40 countries, which is a mandatory requirement for inclusion in the Olympics. During his visit, PM Modi also met Michal Spiszko, President of the Kabaddi Federation of Poland and Anna Kalbarski, Board Member of the Kabaddi Federation of Poland in Warsaw.
The meeting with PM Modi had a significant impact, with Michal Spiszko expressing the view that India should consider bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games and expressing his desire to include Kabaddi in it.
The GPKL also aims to promote kabaddi on the international stage, a major step towards its inclusion in the Olympic Games and supporting India's bid to host the Summer Games in 2036. The organisers are ensuring representation from all continents, with each of the six teams comprising players from at least three continents.