South Korea’s BTS is one of the most popular pop brands in the world. Since its launch in 2013, its fame has spread worldwide. Bangladesh also has a lot of BTS fans, especially young women. Bangabandhu Cup 2024 International Kabaddi in Bangladesh South Korea is getting the support of those BTS fans. Hundreds of schoolgirls were seen sitting across the gallery of Mirpur’s Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium on Tuesday, chanting in support of Korea.

Inquiring about the young women who supported South Korea, it was learned that they attended the local Alim Uddin High School. As the Korean players entered the court before the start of the Indonesia-South Korea match, the girls shouted from the gallery. Many of them were throwing ‘flying kisses’ to the Korean players. Their enthusiasm was palpable. What is the reason for their love for Korean players to have so many teams? Sharifa Akter, the senior teacher of the school, had to be approached to know the reason. He talked to four students of the school. Mim Akhtar and Sadia Akhtar, students of class VIII. Fatema Ghazi Mehrun and Anika Akhter Lilly are in class IX.

Mim and Sadia said in a cheerful voice, ‘We like the Korean team and their culture very much. They like everything very much. In fact, I am supporting the Korea team because of the country’s world-famous pop-band team BTS! I can find this Korean kabaddi team among the singers of BTS.

However, Meherun and Lilly disagreed a bit, ‘We are supporting the Korean team because of their style of play.’ These four Korean-fans came to see the game at Mirpur’s Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium for the first time on Tuesday. They are very happy to come here. After hearing about this kabaddi tournament from school teachers, they are interested to come to the stadium. He wants to come to watch volleyball-cricket game in the future if he gets time and opportunity.

Mehrun-Lily also added, ‘Like the Korean kabaddi team, we have also come to this stadium for the first time. Before this, I have seen the games of many other teams including Bangladesh on TV. I know that Bangladesh has become the hat-trick champion in this tournament. Naturally the biggest support will be to Bangladesh. Then Korea. Mim-Sadia also expressed support for Bangladesh.

Mim-Sadia, who is a fan of the BTS band, also gave a little test, ‘There are seven people singing in the BTS band. I know everyone’s names too – Jungkook, G, Suga, RM, Jimin, J-Hope and V. We have been fans of the BTS band for about one and a half years. A few days ago, three teenage girls in Bangladesh ran away from home after falling in love with the members of the BTS band. Their goal was to get a job, save money, learn Korean and go to Korea to meet the Jungkooks (and maybe even get married!). Mim-Sadias know about this incident. In this regard, they said, ‘They did not do the right thing by running away from home. We will never do that.’

Meherun went to his village in Chandpur and played Kabaddi as a hobby. In fact, they play badminton, football, kabaddi, cricket in school. Finally everyone said that they will come to watch the Kabaddi game tomorrow too and wish with all their hearts that Bangladesh will win the title again.