ABBOTSFORD – Abbotsford Police are looking for an Indian kabbadi player, who they say is missing after coming to Canada to participate in a number of tournaments.
Liakat Ali, who is a well-known competitor in kabaddi, is reported to be missing but more likely is gone hiding in what could be a “Kabooter-bazi” scheme. Let’s wait and see!
Ali was dropped off in Abbotsford by a truck driver at 7 p-m on August 10th, but never showed up for the actual tournament. He was last seen at Mount Lehman Road and Fraser Highway, getting into a pick-up truck driven by an Indo-Canadian man with a turban.
Ali was expected to play in an Abbotsford tournament last weekend but did not show up.
It’s still not clear if the 24-year-old athlete is in danger, avoiding immigration, or visiting relatives and is out of touch with his contacts.
“It’s hard to say at this point,” said Const. Ian MacDonald of Abbotsford police.
There’s no evidence that Ali, who has a valid visa until September, has come to harm.
“But he’s off the grid right now and that’s a concern.”
It’s not the first time a visiting kabaddi player has gone missing while in Canada.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada revoked a streamlined visa process for visiting kabaddi players after a large number of players went missing in 2011, reported Abbotsford Times.
The visa program was the result of increasing requests from kabaddi federations in 2010, according to the ministry.
But the high number of refugee claims afterward caused concern over the whether the applicants were legitimate.
“There’s evidence that in 2011, of the 670 visas issued to Kabaddi players, there were 27 refugee claims and 91 people who did not report back to the visa office as required by the program,” ministry staff wrote in an e-mail.
Players visiting for the 2012 kabaddi season now must apply through regular channels for temporary visas.
Balraj Sangha, director of the Abbotsford Sports Kabaddi Club, said it’s too early to make assumptions about the whereabouts of Ali, who was brought in by an Edmonton club and is due to play another Abbotsford tournament on Aug. 26.
“He might be visiting relatives. If he doesn’t show for that tournament then people should worry,” said Sangha.
The Abbotsford club has been bringing overseas players to the community for close to a decade without problems, he said.
“We have sponsored four players. All them come back and forth to and from India with no problems.”
The people that went missing last year were brought in by clubs in Alberta and Ontario and many weren’t athletes, Sangha said.
Ali was in Edmonton until Aug. 9, when arrangements were made for him to travel to Abbotsford, said MacDonald.
He’s described as 5-foot-1 inches tall, 160-pounds, clean shaven, with black hair and brown eyes, wearing a black t-shirt and flip flops.
Anyone with information on Ali’s location should call the APD at 604-859-5225.
