Pakistan women's team in gender row at Kabaddi World Cup

Pakistan were subject to gender row in Kabaddi World cup

The ongoing Kabaddi World Cup was mired in controversy as England’s women kabaddi team officials demanded a gender test for three Pakistan women kabaddi players.

England said that the Pakistan players “appear to have male-like physique” and are “playing the game like male participants”. The team also felt that their grievances have been hushed up despite the complaints.

“Prior to our match against Pakistan at Jalalabad on December 7, I submitted a letter raising serious doubts about three players who we suspect are of male gender. All the women teams are put up at the same hotel and we have had sufficient time to observe the behaviour of these players,” said Kawal Das, general secretary of the England Kabaddi Federation, in a letter to the director of sports (Punjab) Shiv Dullar Singh Dhillon.

Das said that a team of doctors were supposed to look into the matter but the plan was cancelled after Pakistani officials made requests. The England team further said that they had registered their complaints on December 7 and 8 but that there was no action by the organisers.

An official said: “How can they think of including kabaddi in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games if you ignore such a serious issue?”

While admitting that objections had been raised by the England team, tournament director Shiv Dev Singh said the players in question have an “athletics background” and might be “having some male hormones”.

“There is no question of males or transgenders playing in the team. The players in question were professional throwers and might be having male hormones. This can be checked by dope tests,” Shiv Dev said.

Despite the claims and complaints, India beat Pakistan convincingly to enter the finals of the women’s World Cup.