Rijiju asks AKFI to launch inquiry into ‘unauthorised’ team

The team returned from Lahore after losing in the final on Sunday amid the furore over its participation in an event declared “invalid” by the International Kabaddi Federation. “We did not need permission from any authority for participating in the tournament because we all went there in individual capacities,” team promoter Davinder Singh Bajwa told reporters upon returning via the Attari-Wagah land route.

“Five independent federations went to Pakistan in their own capacities to take part in the competition. Therefore, there was nothing wrong in it,” he added. In New Delhi, the sports minister said he has asked the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) to conduct an inquiry.

“Our official kabaddi team didn’t go to Pakistan. We don’t know which team went there. It is not right for any unofficial team to go anywhere and play with India’s name. We didn’t send any official team,” said Rijiju.

“We will ask the kabaddi federation to conduct an inquiry and identify those people who went there and used India’s name without taking permission. To represent India in any recognised tournament, it is mandatory to take approval from the respective sport’s national federation.”

The minister though added, “If somebody goes for any private tournament, then we can’t do anything.” Soon after the Indian team arrived in Lahore for the tournament, it had kicked up a storm with the sports ministry and the national federation claiming they did not give clearance to any athlete for competing in the neighbouring country.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to congratulate his team after it beat India in the final. Asked about it, Rijiju said it was not wise on Imran’s part. “It is not wise for a person of the stature of the Pakistan Prime Minister to make such statements. It is a serious matter. Imran himself was a sportsman. Now that he has become the Prime Minister, he should avoid giving such statements.”

Meanwhile, Davinder said the tournament was dedicated to Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak Dev on his 550th birth anniversary. “The team travelled to Pakistan on valid visa,” he claimed. “It was not an official tournament that required permission from any specific department.”