An Interview with Bartlomiej Gorniak, General Secretary of the Polish Kabaddi Federation
As excitement builds for the Kabaddi World Cup 2025, we spoke with Bartlomiej (Bart) Gorniak, the General Secretary of the Polish Kabaddi Federation. Bart shared his personal story, the unique rise of kabaddi in Poland, and his hopes for both the Polish team and the future of this thrilling sport.
Discovering Kabaddi
Bart’s Kabaddi story began in 2021 when he first encountered the sport through a friend. “My friend, who was a physical education student back then, was also a Kabaddi player. He told me that there’s this sport, and I was really confused, because I didn’t really understand how it was played.”
With curiosity piqued, Bart attended his first kabaddi training session. “I really like the fact that this game combines, on one hand, the speed and the reflex… but on the other hand, it requires a lot of strength, and not only physical strength but also mental strength. You have to know exactly the perfect moment to do each action.”
From Player to Leader
Bart’s role in kabaddi has changed over the last four years. “I now focus more on supporting our organisation, because I realised that Kabaddi gives a great opportunity to develop as a manager and a marketer who is focusing on promoting the sport.”
Today, Bart serves as the General Secretary for the Polish Kabaddi Federation, a role that is shaping the sport’s future in Poland. “Right now, we are focusing on building the organisation, not just within Poland but also to establish a European Kabaddi Federation.”
The Evolution of Kabaddi in Poland
Kabaddi’s arrival in Poland can be traced back to 2015. “This year is the 10th anniversary of kabaddi in Poland. Michal Spiczko, the current president of Polish Kabaddi Federation was originally invited to Pro Kabaddi League in 2015 and he fell in love with this game. Coming from a background in American football, he joined the Bengaluru Bulls kabaddi team. And when he came back to Poland, he decided that he would like to promote this sport here in our country.”
The sport’s growth has been gradual. “The problem was that this game was completely unknown for Polish people. But fortunately, Michal is a really charismatic leader, and he was able to gather his friends from American football, and they created a kabaddi team – perhaps not the most skilful, but extremely well prepared physically.”
Bart recounted a proud moment for the Polish team. “In 2016 there was a world championship in Ahmedabad. And we were the second most watchable team during the whole tournament. The first one was India, as I remember, and we were the second, because people were surprised that our team, full of Polish people, knew how to play kabaddi and were not as bad as they were expecting!”
Preparing for the World Cup
Looking ahead to the Kabaddi World Cup 2025, Bart outlined the team’s strategy. “We decided that we would like to involve young players more, and because of that, we have combined very skilled and experienced players (preparing in Warsaw) with younger players – still skilful, but yet not experienced. They are preparing in Augustów.”
When asked about his aspirations, Bart remained level-headed. “The main goal is to get this feeling that we fulfilled our potential… Just go to the pitch, just give 100% of the skills that you have and expect the best.”
Among the competing nations, Bart highlighted one opponent in particular: “England… they are our main rival, our nemesis. Because we had a lot of matches against them, and sometimes they won, sometimes we won. And they are extremely experienced, they are extremely skilled.”
Promoting Kabaddi’s Unique Spirit
Bart emphasised the importance of introducing kabaddi to new audiences. “We are still trying to figure out how to promote Kabaddi in Poland. The fact that this is a completely different game that came from a different culture… requires a lot of skills and understanding how we can promote this game.”
Looking to the future, he offered advice for those curious about the sport. “What I recommend, especially for young people, is to commit to this game for one year, throw yourself into it and see what amazing opportunities it will bring you.”
Cheer for Poland at the Kabaddi World Cup!
Bart’s story embodies the heart of kabaddi—passion, persistence, and a commitment to growth. Show your support for Bart and the Polish team as they compete on the global stage at the Kabaddi World Cup 2025!
Follow the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 on social media for updates, match schedules, and all the action from this extraordinary tournament. Together, let’s celebrate the spirit of kabaddi and cheer on Team Poland!
