The debate emerged after images and clips spread on social media depicting Rajput donning an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag after a match victory.
The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) has imposed an indefinite suspension on international kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput following revelations that he participated with an Indian team at a private tournament in Bahrain earlier this month.
An emergency meeting held on Saturday resulted in the decision, with PKF officials pointing out breaches of mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) regulations and expressing worries about Rajput’s behavior during the event.
The debate emerged after images and clips spread on social media depicting Rajput donning an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag after a match victory. As per the PKF, as stated by PTI, Rajput went overseas to compete in the tournament without securing the necessary NOC from the federation or appropriate authorities.
PKF secretary Rana Sarwar stated that the issue was taken seriously, especially due to Rajput’s behavior while representing the Indian team.
Sarwar mentioned that Rajput asserted the incident was a “total misunderstanding” and that he was not notified in advance that the private team he joined would be represented as an Indian team.
According to Sarwar, the findings of Rajput’s violation of the NOC Rules are clear; however, the ability to appeal his suspension to the disciplinary committee remains with Rajput.
The PKF did not become aware of Rajput’s violation until shortly after it became publicly known through social media, when Rajput was photographed wearing Indian clothing and also while holding the Indian flag during the GCC tournament in Bahrain.
It is also worth noting that other players who competed in this tournament without an NOC were suspended and fined by the PKF for the same violation, showing that the PKF will continue to enforce the policies surrounding National Representation.
Finally, Rajput expressed regret for his actions and apologised publicly.
He mentioned that he received an invitation to participate in the Bahrain tournament with a private team and did not initially realize that the team would be referred to as an “Indian team.”
He asserted that after discovering this, he requested the organizers to refrain from using the names India or Pakistan.
“In earlier private tournaments, players from India and Pakistan have participated in mixed teams, but never with their national identities,” Rajput stated, noting that such appeals had been honored before.
He also stated that he felt misrepresented, by saying, “Unfortunately, this led to people wrongly seeing me as an Indian player, which, after my disagreement with India, is not something I can see myself doing.”
This situation reiterates how sensitive it is to involve athletes from rival countries in professional sports when countries have strained diplomatic relationships.
