Bangladesh kabaddi team felicitated for Commonwealth Championship bronze

Bangladesh’s national kabaddi team, bronze medallists at the inaugural 2026 Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad, India, were felicitated at a reception held in recognition of the achievement, according to a report datelined Dhaka on Tuesday, 3 November.

The ceremony, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, City Centre, was organised by Yawar Khan, Chairman of the Asian Catering Federation and Founder and Chairman of the Asian Curry Awards. Officials of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, players from the national men’s and women’s teams, coaching staff and invited guests attended. Players from both squads were recognised on the night, along with federation officials and coaching staff.

Bangladesh reached the semi-finals of the championship, where they came up against hosts India, before securing the bronze medal. The reception was framed as a tribute to the players’ performance, discipline and collective efforts throughout the tournament.

Organiser Yawar Khan hails determination, discipline and unity

Addressing the gathering, Yawar Khan congratulated the team, saying the achievement reflected the players’ determination, discipline and unity. He said their performance had brought pride to Bangladesh and would inspire future generations of athletes.

For a delegation that included both the men’s and women’s national sides, the event offered a rare public stage away from the mat. It also brought together federation administrators and supporters from outside the sport’s governing structure, with the Asian Catering Federation stepping in as host.

England captain Anisa Khan looks to Bangladesh for lessons

Among the guests was Anisa Khan, a British-Bangladeshi who captains the England kabaddi team. She congratulated the Bangladesh team and highlighted the importance of international cooperation and knowledge-sharing in developing the sport.

“Kabaddi is still a relatively new sport in England. We are at a stage where we are learning, developing our skills and working to take the game forward. Learning from countries like Bangladesh, which have a long-standing tradition and experience in kabaddi, is important for us,” she said.

Her remarks pointed to the role that nations with a deep kabaddi history can play for teams that are still building the game, a theme that ran through several of the speeches at the reception.

Federation officials thank organisers and target further success

Delwar Hossain, team manager of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, thanked Yawar Khan and the Asian Catering Federation for organising the reception and for extending their support to the delegation. He said the bronze medal was the result of the players’ dedication and collective efforts throughout the championship, adding that such recognition would encourage the players and officials to strive for further success.

Mohammad Zahid Iqbal Almas, treasurer of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, also expressed gratitude to the organisers for recognising the team’s achievement. He underscored the importance of international friendship and cooperation in strengthening Bangladesh’s position in the global kabaddi arena.

The report did not set out Bangladesh’s next international assignment, but federation officials made clear they saw the Ahmedabad bronze as a platform to build on.