We all know that top level sport is no longer about the contest, it is about money.
It is about the money that success generates, be it sponsorship dollars, memberships, or television rights. In many of the less high profile sports it is about funding. Many short sighted governments have hitched their vote-winning to sport. Their funding is directly linked to that sport’s success on the international stage. In Australia we witnessed the foolish and highly flawed “Winning Edge program” which saw only sports that were likely to medal at an Olympic Games receiving funding from the Government. Similar programs are in place across the world.
In a nutshell funding is based on success.
In 2018 at the Asian Games it appeared that there was a shift in the sport of Kabaddi, when the only Gold medallists in the sport since it was included in the Games in both the women’s and men’s events, India, did not win the Gold medal. The Islamic Republic of Iran claimed gold in both events. (The Loss that is a Victory for Kabaddi)
What a difference five years can make.
India was understandably stung by these two defeats. So come the recently postponed Asian Games of 2022 in Hangzhou, China, they were determined to win back what they felt was rightfully theirs. After all the sport is believed to be the national sport of India. Although variations existed in other nations including Iran and Indonesia.
In the women’s tournament, in which seven teams participated, Chinese Taipei were the team to watch, as they defeated defending Gold medallists Iran in their semi-final. This was a huge upset but showed just how far the sport had come in Chinese Taipei. In the final they met India, with whom they had played a draw in the Pool matches. This time they were defeated by just one point. There were understandably tears because they had come so close to victory, but there was so much to be proud of. This was a fantastic performance, and the future for this team looks very positive, what can they achieve in the future?
In the men’s event Chinese Taipei also performed well and made it through to the semi-finals. Here they lost to Iran, having lost to India in their pool match. India defeated Pakistan in their semi-final which meant that it would be India v Iran in the gold medal match.
It was a tremendous tussle between the two best teams in Men’s Kabaddi. It was tied up at 28-28 with one minute and eight seconds remaining. India went on a raid.
One of the Iranian defenders stepped out, and then the Indian Captain stepped off the mat into the lobby. Three Iranian defenders swept across and made contact.
The Referee and Umpires deemed the play one point per team. India appealed to the video claiming that they felt that they should have had four points to one. One for each of the defenders who stepped off the mat.
The video jury ruled that it should be one point per side just as the on court officials had said.
This was when mayhem ensued. In a nutshell India refused to accept the decision of the video jury. We witnessed the referee beeing touched by the captain and the coach, and the two team leaders leaning over the advertising hoardings yelling at the video officials. In time the judges and the referee went up to view the replays. At one point it was changed to three points to India and one to Iran. Understandably then Iran was upset.
It reminded one of the 1982 FIFA World Cup when Alan Giresse scored against Kuwait to make it 4-1 to France. The Kuwaiti players protested that they had all stopped after hearing the whistle. It turned out it was a whistle in the crowd. The Kuwait players surrounded the referee pleading for the goal to be rubbed out. What is it they say, always play to the whistle?
They looked to the stand where the President of the Kuwaiti FA sat, Prince Fahad, he signalled to the players and they started to walk off. The game was held up for ten minutes. The Prince appeared on the pitch, and to this day no one knows exactly what was said but the game restarted but with a bounced ball, and the goal was disallowed by referee Miroslav Stupar.
France went on to win 4-1, the Prince was fined, and the referee never officiated in another game at the World Cup.
In Hangzhou after 25 minutes of protesting, yelling and gesticulating play was suspended. We then witnessed the AKFI secretary-general looking at the footage and he too agreed with the jury. He even went and explained it to the Indian captain and coach.
This whole scene played out in front of a live television audience as well as spectators who had bought tickets to come and watch a gold medal event. It was a dreadful advert for the sport. The delay ended up lasting over 80 minutes and in the end, despite the communication of the jury, and the officials from the governing body, India finally received three points and Iran one. The scoreboard changed to 31- 29. Iran reluctantly played out the final minute and eight seconds, and the record books will show that India reclaimed the Gold medal 33-29.
India’s celebrations were over the top, when one considered the events of the previous hour.
The record books will sadly not show how the victory came about. The manner in which it was achieved. Which in truth maybe for the best. Neither will they show the behaviour of the vanquished Iran. While understandably disappointed, they were also deep down far from happy to lose simply because one team had refused to accept the decision of the jury. The victors had stepped outside of the boundaries of competition, which is to accept the decisions of the umpires, referees or video officials even if they are wrong.
Kabaddi is a game based on respect and honesty and Iran lived up to those beliefs, and the players put aside their feelings and shook hands with their opponents. They then promptly left the arena leaving India to celebrate.
There are grave lessons to be learned from this ugly episode. The referee and Judges have to have more power, their word must be final. Once a team refuses to accept the judgement from the Jury they should be given the option to play on or forfeit.
If a player or a coach touches an official as in many sports they should face dire consequences. While no one was hurt in this situation it opens the door to an official being injured in the future.
The officiating was to be fair at times shambolic during the event, and this needs to be cleaned up and become far more professional.
What is most regrettable from this incident is that it reflected poorly on the sport. Here was a sport that thanks to the performance of Chinese Taipei was capturing the imagination of the Chinese people. The China Today newspaper had carried a story after the women’s final about how they felt it would catch on in China if it was introduced in schools and colleges. With China’s population the possibilities were endless.
Following what eventuated conversations turned to whether it should be included in the Games in Nagoya in 2026.
It should be, but those governing the sport need to put in place rules that ensure that no such scene is ever witnessed again, and that the officials have the power to ensure that the game continues. There is a lot of work to be done in three years…
