East Africa and national league champions Kenya Police Service (men) and Administration Police women’s team won the fourth edition of the Kabaddi President’s Cup- rectangle style on Wednesday 20th at the National Youth Service headquarters in Nairobi.
Hosts team, NYS settled for silver as the AP team took bronze in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, the cup favorites AP, asserted their dominance and took gold while NPS and NYS settled for silver and bronze respectfully. Kenya Prisons Services won the Circle style as NYS came in for a silver, a category that had few women teams participating.
Debutants Maasai Warriors from Kajiado County, a club formed last month to curb cases of early childhood marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among the girl child from the Maa community, won the promising team trophy.
Africa competitions manager Perpetual Muthoni, expressed excitement over the popularity growth of Kabaddi, – a contact sport between two teams and is composed of seven players each team, – as more teams register for the sport that originated in India.
“Kabaddi is slowly being appreciated by all, as an alternative sport. This Championships has been one of the toughest that we have organized as we end the season. Our players are becoming more skillful which is attracting new teams.” said Muthoni who also doubles up as an athletics national youth coach.
Kenya Police Service, Administration Police, National Youth Service, Marurui men, Utawala Stars, Shauri Moyo men, Shree Cutchi, Kenya Prisons Service men, Kirinyaga warriors, Maasai Worriors, Murang’a Tigers, and All Seniors were the teams that participated the event before heading for their end of year party to celebrate the federation’s achievement.
Muthoni also revealed that the 2024 season will be more eventful with several national and international competitions being scheduled in the calendar of events.
