HOSTS IN GROUP OF DEATH

Hosts Kuala Lumpur are faced in a daunting task of making it to the quarter-finals of the KL International Inter City Kabaddi Championships from March 5-7 at the Stadium Titiwangsa.

The KL side have been drawn in the same group with Chennai and Mumbai in Group D of the competition. Although the top two teams in the group qualify for the last eight, it would still be an herculean task for the local side.

At the last championships in 2008, the KL side gave a stunning performance to finish runners-up to the Indian city team from Patialla.

Enroute to the final they had beaten Sri Lanka’s Colombo and would be hoping to hit similar form in the competition this year. The KL side for the competition this year would be missing a couple of key players from 2008 but are still expected to be competitive.

In Group A, Colombo are expected to qualify for the last eight together with India’s Kaparthula. The KL Presidents XII are not expected to pose much threat to either team. The KL Presidents XII comprise of junior Under-19 players out to gain experience at the championships.

Group B comprises of New Delhi, Nepal’s Katmandu and the sole European representatives Oslo. Delhi are expected to be a much stronger side that the team that finished fourth at the last championships.

The Oslo team comprises of non-residential Indian residents and are also expected to be a strong contender.

Defending champions Patialla are in Group C with Putrajaya and India’s Vijayawada. Putrajaya are also expected to be competitive and have a fighting chance of making it through to the last eight.

In the women’s competition, Kuala Lumpur are in Group X with Oslo and Jagtpura while Group Y comprises of Putrajaya, Colombo and New Delhi.

Both the local teams are much stronger that they were two years ago and would be looking to do well at the championships.
Speaking at the Draw Ceremony, Kabaddi Association of Kuala Lumpur president S.T. Arasu said that the championships would be perhaps one of the biggest tournaments in the sport in recent years.

“The number of participating international teams far surpass any recent international competitions anywhere and you can expect some great matches,” said Arasu.

He added that the tournament would also serve as a exposure ground for the Federal Territory Sukma players.

“We are gunning for a double gold at the Sukma in Melaka in June and the high level competition here would be valuable experience for the players,” he said.



THE GROUPINGS

MEN
GROUP A: COLOMBO, KL PRESIDENTS XII, KAPURTHALA
GROUP B: NEW DELHI, KATMANDU, OSLO
GROUP C: PATTIALA, PUTRAJAYA, VIJAYAWADA
GROUP D: KUALA LUMPUR, MUMBAI, CHENNAI

WOMEN
GROUP X: KUALA LUMPUR, OSLO, JAGATPURA
GROUP Y: PUTRAJAYA, COLOMBO, NEW DELHI