Guali town gains the honorary title of "Kabaddi Town in China". [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Muhammad Sarwar, secretary-general of the Asian Kabaddi Federation, presented the honorary title of "Kabaddi Town in China" to Guali town in Xiaoshan district of Hangzhou on Aug 19, local media outlets reported.

A commemorative plaque was bestowed upon the town, making it the first locality in China to receive such recognition.

With the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, Guali town, as the host of three major events – martial arts, kabaddi, and para-taekwondo – has been preparing to ensure the smooth execution of these competitions.

Sarwar expressed that Guali has not only fulfilled various tasks associated with the test events but also organized China's inaugural national kabaddi competition to a high standard. Furthermore, Guali organized community-wide fitness initiatives related to kabaddi, significantly contributing to the sport's promotion in China.

In order to foster excitement for the Asian Games throughout the town, Guali has promoted kabaddi through activities like "Into Schools, Into Villages, Into Enterprises." The approach has enabled kabaddi to become yet another distinctive hallmark of Guali.

As a featured competition in the Asian Games, the kabaddi events are scheduled to be held at the Guali Cultural and Sports Center from Oct 2 to 7. The tournament will witness the participation of nearly 200 athletes from across the continent, who will compete for gold medals in both men's and women's team categories.

A kabaddi competition. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]