Bangladesh’s historic run in the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup came to a close on Sunday, as they were defeated 18-25 by Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals at Mirpur’s Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium. The home team had aimed for their first-ever appearance in the final, but the gap gradually widened in the second half, forcing them to settle for bronze.
The first half was a tight contest, with Bangladesh trailing by just a single point, 8-9. Veteran players, including Rupli Akter in her farewell match, and Smriti, showed remarkable determination. Before the match, Akter was honoured with the captain’s armband and a ceremonial crown by Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, adding emotion to an already high-stakes encounter.
Bangladesh briefly took the lead at 10-9 in the second half, only for Chinese Taipei to respond immediately and level the score at 10-10. By the fifth minute of the second half, Chinese Taipei forced an all-out, gaining a three-point cushion at 15-12. They maintained their composure and dominated the remaining minutes to seal a 25-18 victory.
Despite missing out on the final, Bangladesh earned the bronze medal—their best-ever finish in the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, surpassing their fifth-place result in 2012 in India. The team’s performance highlighted both their progress and potential for future tournaments.
Chinese Taipei will face India in Monday’s final. India had earlier defeated Iran 33-21 in the first semi-final, setting up a compelling showdown in the inaugural champions’ clash.