Iran’s men’s kabaddi team will arrive in Islamabad on Thursday for a joint training camp with Pakistan, as both countries intensify preparations for next month’s Asian Games in Japan.
The camp has been organised at the invitation of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) and will give the two teams an opportunity to train and compete against each other before the Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4.
PKF Secretary General Mohammad Sarwar welcomed Iran’s decision to participate, saying the arrangement would strengthen preparations for both squads.
“We are very much thankful to the Iran Kabaddi Federation for sending their team. It will help both sides prepare well for the Asiad,” Sarwar said.
Alongside joint training sessions, the teams are expected to play daily practice matches. The PKF is also considering organising a series of competitive fixtures that could be presented as a Test series.
Iran has developed into one of Asia’s leading kabaddi teams, challenging the traditional dominance of Pakistan and India in the sport.
The Iranian side demonstrated its growing strength at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, where it defeated South Korea in the final to capture the men’s kabaddi gold medal.
The Islamabad camp will provide both Pakistan and Iran with an opportunity to test combinations, improve match fitness and fine-tune their preparations before travelling to Japan for the continental event.