Auckland, New Zealand "has finished second behind London at the 2012 International Sports Event Management awards after the successful hosting of last year's Rugby World Cup." The Rugby World Cup "was the main event held in Auckland during the judging period, but the city also hosted the ITU World Cup triathlon event, Champions Trophy hockey tournament, Volvo Ocean Race and Rally of New Zealand" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 11/8). ... The first Afghan Rugby Club team -- Kabul United RFC -- "will play a series of matches against rugby clubs from Cambodia, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, India, the U.K. and New Zealand at the biggest ever sport festival in Pakistan this week." The participation "means a lot to the Afghanistan Rugby Federation." It is a big step for development of the sport and "will certainly encourage other rugby clubs to do more to be entitled for foreign tours." Kabul United "was formed less than a year ago, but interest in the sport is quickly spreading" (ALJAZEERA.com, 11/7). ... India is "in the running to host the 2015 World Wrestling Championship ahead of the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro." Wrestling Federation of India Secretary General Raj Singh said, "We have bid for the 2015 Senior Men’s World Wrestling Championship" (PTI, 11/7). ... Indian football team's int'l friendly against Yemen, which was slated to be played on Wednesday in Guwahati, has been canceled after the visiting team informed All India Football Federation that it "will not be able to make the trip due to ticketing problems" (PTI, 11/8).
