Nepal women's Kabaddi team ready for World Cup

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 19: Nepal’s national women’s kabaddi team is set to leave for India on Saturday to participate in the second edition of Women’s Kabaddi World Cup. 

The World Cup is taking place in Hyderabad from August 3 to 10. The tournament is going to be held after 13 years. The inaugural event was held in Patna, India in 2012. Host India emerged as champion with Iran, Japan, and Thailand ending in second, third, and fourth place respectively in the first edition. 

The 14 member Nepali squad is skippered by Manmati Bista. The delegation also includes Head Coach Bishnudatt Bhatt, Assistant Coach Harina Thapa, Manager Sharad Darshandhari, and Referee Ramesh Chandra Ojha.

Coach Bhatt and Captain Bista shared confidence ahead of departure, citing eight months of focused training and a strong ambition to return home with a medal.

Before the tournament begins, the Nepali team will undergo a 12-day training camp in Mor Majra, Haryana. They will be playing warm-up matches against five local clubs.

Nepal enters the event ranked third in Asia among 47 Kabaddi nations, after earning its spot through strong performances at the continental level.

Besides Nepal, competing nations include India, Uganda, Germany, Chinese Taipei, Netherlands, Zanzibar, Iran, Japan, Poland, Kenya, Argentina, Bangladesh and Thailand.

At a farewell ceremony held Friday, the team was sent off by National Sports Council Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising, All Nepal Kabaddi Association President Tulsi Thapa, and National Team Director Deepak Bista. 

Ghising praised the team's rise, saying they have shattered the notion that Nepali women’s kabaddi is limited to South Asia. Director Bista extended best wishes, urging players to compete with national pride.

Squad: Manmati Bista, Jayanti Badu. Menuka Kumari Rajbanshi, Raveena Chaudhary, Mina Nepali, Ganga Ghimire, Ashika Kunwar, Shrijana Kumari Tharu, Shrijana Dhanuk, Manisha Joshi, Urusha Shakya, Asma Yadav, Binita Pandit Kshetri and Sanju Thami.