Bangladesh, Nepal begin Asian Games tune-up 

 
Bangladesh and Nepal will lock horns in the opening match of their five-match women's Kabaddi Test series at the National Kabaddi Stadium in Dhaka today (Friday) at 3:00 pm, with both sides eyeing valuable match practice ahead of the Asian Games.

The Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation has organised the series from 17 to 23 July, with the remaining matches scheduled for 18, 20, 21 and 23 July. According to the federation, the series has been arranged primarily to sharpen Bangladesh's preparations for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where Kabaddi returns as a key medal event.

Bangladesh captain Srabani Mallik said the series would provide crucial competitive exposure. 

She said, "It is a friendly series which will be a preparation for the upcoming Asian Games. Nepal are a better side than us. But we are hopeful of a good result. We will try our best to win it."

Nepal skipper Menuka Kumari Rajbanshi struck a confident note, saying, "We are here to win the series. We have respect for the host, but our target is victory." In a written statement, Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation General Secretary SM Nawshad Hossain recalled Bangladesh's 3-2 series defeat in Nepal last year and said the home side had worked hard to rectify its shortcomings. He expressed hope that home support would inspire the players to produce their best performances.

However, the series has drawn criticism even before the first whistle. Multiple sources familiar with Nepalese Kabaddi say the visitors are not the country's full-strength national team, with several established first-team players absent. Critics argue that facing what is effectively a second-string Nepal side may diminish the competitive value of the series and limit its effectiveness as genuine Asian Games preparation for Bangladesh.