Ban On Indian Kabaddi Federation Will Be Lifted Next Month: International Body Chief Vinod Kumar Tiwari

In a respite for Indian kabaddi players, the international governing body of the sport is set to lift suspension imposed on the national federation next month after the court-appointed administrator handed over the charge to the 'elected body'. International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) President Vinod Kumar Tiwari told PTI that the ban will be lifted after an executive council meeting scheduled next month. The IKF had banned the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) in July last year after the 'elected body' was not allowed to take charge.

"The court-appointed administrator has handed over the charge to the AKFI office bearers who were elected in December 2023. The AKFI office bearers have started functioning from AKFI office at JLN Stadium," Tiwari said in an interview.

"So, the ban on AKFI will be lifted. We will have our executive board meeting (of the IKF) next month and the ban will be officially lifted." In a February 6 order, the Supreme Court had asked Justice (Retd.) S P Garg, the AKFI administrator, to hand over control of the federation to the office bearers elected in December 2023.

The SC division bench had, however, clarified that it hadn't recognised the elected body of the federation yet, but was passing the order to allow participation of Indian players in the senior Asian Kabaddi Championship-2025 scheduled in Iran from February 20 to 25.

The top court passed the order after two national Kabaddi players -- Priyanka and Pooja -- sought direction to AKFI for sending them to Asian Kabaddi Championship in Iran.

Tiwari said the IKF had already allowed the Indian players' participation in the Asian Championships.

Earlier in 2019, the Delhi High Court made Justice (Retd.) Garg as the AKFI administrator after