
Defending champions Poland have been drawn in Group A of the European Kabaddi Championships starting later today in the Cypriot city of Nicosia.
The Poles, looking to retain the crown will have Italy and Belgium for company. Holland, who were beaten by Poland at the last championships, are in Group B with England and hosts Cyprus.
With only the top teams in each group qualifying for the finals, it is going to be an intense preliminary round competition.
Poland’s biggest hurdle in the competition is expected to come from Italy while Holland’s clash against Cyprus is likely to decide the other finalist.
The championship is being hosted by the Cyprus Kabaddi Federation for the first time and is sanctioned by World Kabaddi.
The preliminary rounds for the championship will be played on Saturday with the winners of both groups clashing in the final on Sunday evening.
There will also be a special Women’s Kabaddi Challenge between England and African champions Egypt.
The championship will also see six nations playing in a knockout competition for the inaugural European Circle Kabaddi crown.
Host Cyprus have been given a first round bye and will meet the winners of the tie between Belgium and Greece in the semi-finals.
Likewise, Italy has been given a first round bye and will play the winners of the tie between Poland and Scotland.
The managers meeting was held last night together with the official opening ceremony attended by the Lord mayor of Nicosia.
All matches will be streamed online on the official You Tube Channel.
Schedule (All Times Cyprus GMT +3)
30-Oct-21 | Section | Team | Team | |
10.30am | Men | Cyprus | vs | England |
11.30am | Men | Italy | vs | Belgium |
1.00pm | Men | Holland | vs | Cyprus |
2.00pm | Men | Poland | vs | Italy |
3.00pm | Women | England | vs | Egypt |
4.00pm | Men | Poland | vs | Belgium |
5.00pm | Men | Holland | vs | England |
31-Oct-21 | Section | Team | Team | |
10.00am | Circle | Belgium | vs | Greece |
11.00am | Circle | Scotland | vs | Poland |
12.00pm | Women | Egypt | vs | England |
1.00pm | Circle (SF 1) | Cyprus | vs | Winner Belgium/Greece |
2.00pm | Circle (SF2) | Italy | vs | Winner Scotland/Poland |
3.00pm | Men (Final) | Group A Champion | vs | Group B Champion |
4.00pm | Circle (Final) | Winner SF 1 | vs | Winner SF 2 |