Kabaddi league makes Pak presence felt in Mumbai

While Pakistani players are banned from playing in Mumbai in other sports, three players from across the border were part of the Pro Kabaddi League which kicked off on Saturday

While Pakistani players are banned from playing in Mumbai in other sports, three players from across the border were part of the Pro Kabaddi League which kicked off on Saturday.


Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali with Amitabh Bachchan at the Pro Kabaddi League opener at Worli on Saturday. Pic/Satyajit Desai 

Telegu Titans' Atif Waded and Wajid Ali, and Patna Pirates' Waseem Sajjad were at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI), Worli.

Naseer Ali of Jaipur
franchise could not make it due to a delay in visa. Praising the organisers for bringing Pakistani players in the city, Jaipur skipper Navneet Gautam said: "The organiser should be proud that unlike the Indian Badminton League, Indian Premier League and the Hockey India League where Pakistani players were not allowed to participate, the kabaddi players played in Mumbai which is a great sign for us."

Sound glitch
There was a slight embarrassment for the organisers on Saturday when the start of the national anthem was not audible due to a technical glitch.

The national anthem was only audible from 'Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha…' as the starting lines 'Jana, gana, mana...' were skipped.

Charu Sharma, MD of Mashal Sports and CEO of the Pro Kabaddi League, said: "The national anthem was on, but there was a technical glitch in the beginning and that is why the start was not audible."

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