Rajgir all set to host Women’s Kabaddi World Cup from June 1

Patna: In a landmark moment for Indian sports, Bihar is set to host the Women's Kabaddi World Cup from June 1 to June 10 this year in the historic town of Rajgir. Known for its rich cultural heritage, Rajgir will now also be recognised as a global stage for women's kabaddi with 14 international teams expected to compete.
The tournament will take place at the State Sports Academy in Rajgir and the participating countries will be India, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, the Netherlands, Japan, Poland, Argentina, Hungary, Germany, Kenya and Uganda.
A memorandum of understanding for the 2025 Women's Kabaddi World Cup was formally signed in Patna on Saturday. The agreement was inked by Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, secretary general of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, and Ravindran Shankaran, director general and CEO of the Bihar State Sports Authority.
Indian women's kabaddi team captain Sonali Vishnu and vice-captain Pushpa Rana were present at the signing ceremony. As a mark of respect, traditional garments and tokens were presented by Ravindran Shankaran to honour the dignitaries.
"It is a matter of great joy and pride for Bihar to host the Women's Kabaddi World Cup in Rajgir," Shankaran said. "Due to the govt's commitment to developing sports, Bihar is gaining the honour of hosting several national and international competitions," he added.
Shankaran also announced that matches will be free for spectators, though tickets must be booked via online registration. For those unable to secure passes, large screens will be installed outside the venue to allow everyone to enjoy the games.
Shankaran said the Bihar government was ensuring comprehensive arrangements for players' travel, accommodation and meals during the tournament.
As part of preparations, the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India has been requested to organise a 15-day training camp for the Indian team in Rajgir. This initiative will help the national team adapt to local conditions and offer valuable exposure to Bihar's budding kabaddi players. Officials have also requested the appointment of experienced coaches and referees to support the development of local talent.
Jitendra Pran Singh and Tejasvi Singh Gehlot, director of the International Kabaddi Federation, praised Bihar's growing achievements in the field of sports and assured continued support for kabaddi in the state.
"The Bihar kabaddi team is performing well at the junior level and with better training, it is expected to excel at the senior level as well," they said.