The 12th edition of Kabaddi Cup 2017 organised by Kabaddi New Zealand Federation is reaching its final stages with its deciding matches scheduled for Sunday, April 23 in Takanini.
The tournament started on Friday, March 19 with a total of 11 clubs competing for the title. Kabaddi Cup has gained tremendous momentum over the years as players from Canada, Australia, America and India participate in the tournament. This year, 22 players, two umpires, two internationally renowned commentators from India are participating in the tournament with two Indian players - a raider and a defender, assigned equitably to each team. Two veterans who kept the Kabaddi fire alive in Punjab have also been called at the tournament to be honoured by the NZ Kabaddi Federation.
Kabaddi, the Indian contact team sport has received global recognition and is played at major competitions such as Asia Kabaddi Cup, Kabaddi World Cup, Pro-Kabaddi League and at Asian Games where India has won all seven Gold medals since 1990.
In New Zealand the first local Kabaddi match was held in 1990, and the first major tournament was organised in 2005 with the opening of the Sri Kalgidhar Sahib Gurudwara in Takanini. Since then Takanini Gurudwara had been taking a lead in bringing players from international clubs based in Australia, Canada, US and India to the delight of local fans of the game in New Zealand.
This year the inaugural match was played at the Gurudwara Sri Kalghidhar Sahib Takanini Gurudwara sports complex on Sunday, March 19, in Auckland, which was followed by matches in Hamilton, Hastings, Te Puke, and Papatoetoe.
The eleven teams in the league are Waikato Sports Club from Hamilton, Hawkes Bay Sports Club from Hastings, Kalgidhar Sports Club, Punjab Kesri Sports Club, Malwa Lions Club and Desh Punjab Sports Club from Auckland, Dashmesh Sports Club and Young Sports Club from Te Puke, Tiger Sports Club, Bhindrawala and Bay of Plenty Sport Club from Tauranga.
Two independent referees and two international umpires have also been reined in to judge the matches at the tournament. Hundreds of Kabaddi enthusiasts have cheered these players at the games held at different locations with running commentaries in Punjabi language.
Of the five matches held so far Kalgidhar Sports Club from Auckland and Waikato Sports Club from Hamilton have won one match each while Dashmesh Sports Club from Te Puke has won three games.
The semi-final matches are scheduled to be held at Te Puke on Friday, April 14 and Papatoetoe on Sunday, April 16, 2017. The final game will be held on Sunday, April 23 from 11 a.m. at Takanini Gurudwara.
Two volleyball tournaments were also held beside the Kabaddi Cup on Sunday, March 19 and 26 at Takanini Gurudwara sports complex. Three teams Kalgidhar Lions, New Zealand Black Spikes, and Bay of Plenty Sports Club competed in the two-weekend tournaments. Bay of Plenty Sports Club won the March 19 tournament beating NZ Black Spikes, and Kalgidhar Lions beat the NZ Black Spikes on March 26 finals.