Bangladesh got off to a flying start in the Bangabandhu Cup 2024 International Kabaddi Tournament as they crushed South Korea by 67-22 points with five lonas in their Pool A match at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.聽聽
Bangladesh, who won all three past editions, dominated the first half of the 12-team tournament opener by 24-11 points with two lonas.聽
Bangladesh gained the first lona with 11 points on the board and earned the second when they had 21 points.聽
They earned three more lonas in the second half聽when they were聽on 33, 43, and 45 points聽respectively.
Bangladesh raider Mizanur Rahman scored the most聽21聽points聽and聽later聽he was adjudged player of the match, while skipper Arduzzaman Munshi scored 10 points.
Bangladesh,聽who are聽competing in this tournament under local coach Abdul Jalil for the first time, will play Malaysia today. 聽
In the remaining matches of their Pool, Bangladesh will play against Indonesia, Poland, and Nepal on May 29, 30, and 31聽respectively.
The Pool B聽is comprised聽of聽Iraq, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, and Japan.聽
After the pool phase matches, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be played on June 2 at the same venue before the final on the next day.
Youth and Sports minister Nazmul Hasan, MP, inaugurated the fourth edition of the tournament as the chief guest, while聽Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation president and IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun chaired the program.聽聽
The BKF general secretary and DMP Commissioner, Habibur Rahman, was also present at the event聽among聽others.