'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Sierra Leone
With a population of just over 6 lakhs, Sierra Leone is a small country in West Africa. It is predominantly a Muslim country, but there are quite a few Christian communities as well. The Sierra Leone team has participated in two Kabaddi World Cups till now.
In 2012, they were placed in group C along with Pakistan, Scotland and Italy. Coached by Gurmail Singh Dirbha, the team performed exceptionally well as they thrashed Italy 56-35 and Scotland 73-24 to finish second behind Pakistan. Despite failing to qualify for the knockout stage, they won everyone’s hearts through their stellar performance. They returned to the professional kabaddi circuit 2013, but this time the odds were not in their favour as out of five group matches they won just two and lost three.
The captain of the Sierra Leone national kabaddi team, Mohammad Kandey doubles up as an army man, whereas many other players work as bouncers in clubs across the country to keep their passion of playing kabaddi for the country alive.
