Iran will host the Asian Kabaddi Championship at Tehran next year.
An announcement to this effect was made by Mohammad Abassi, sports and youth affairs minister of Iran, at Bathinda during the semi-final clash between India and Iran, an official release said here on
Thursday.
Abassi praised the conduct of the 2nd World Kabaddi Championship by the Punjab government and urged deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to lead the Asian Kabaddi Federation for the betterment of this game.
He expressed hope that in the years to come the Circle Style Kabaddi would be part of Asian Games.
“The ties between India and Iran are getting stronger with the organisation of such sports events. We have accepted the offer of Punjab government to participate in the three- nation Indigenous Wrestling Competition going to be organised next year," he said.
Meanwhile the Punjab government announced to set up a wrestling academy in collaboration with the Iranian government to promote the traditional sport, as Iran is known for its expertise, infrastructure and agile wrestlers across the world.
A decision to this was effect was taken by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with Abbasi who called on him here on Thursday.
Accompanied by Sukhbir, the Iranian minister agreed to sign the MoU as a goodwill gesture which would further strengthen bilateral ties between Iran and India, especially Punjab.
He also expressed a keen desire to send wrestling coaches from Iran to Punjab to train the Punjabi wrestlers so as to enable them to exhibit their rare talent and skills at the international arena.
Abassi also urged Sukhbir Badal to send Kabaddi coaches to Iran to train their players as the Punjabi Kabaddi players were far better than their Iranian counterparts.