India sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has said the indigenous sport kabaddi has got all the ingredients to become an Olympic sport.
Unveiling the first edition of Kabaddi Masters Dubai, Rathore said: "Hopefully kabaddi will very soon become a global sport and we will see it emerge as a strong contender for an Olympic sport."
The nine-day six-nation meet has participation from football-crazy Latin American nation Argentina who are competing at the international level only second time after the 2016 World Cup in Ahmedabad.
Kenya are also making their international debut in Dubai.
"Kabaddi has got all the qualities to become an Olympic sport. It has got speed, agility, power and teamwork. Hopefully when kabaddi comes to Olympics we will clinch the first gold medal," the 2004 Olympic silver medallist said.
