British international Kabaddi player Sandeep Singh Sandhu has been shot dead at a tournament in India.
Police believe the 40-year-old, who was ranked as one of the best kabaddi players around, may have been the subject of an underworld-style hit.
The incident occurred at Jalandhar’s Mallian Khurd on Monday evening between 6.15pm and 6.30pm.
Unidentified assailants shot Sandeep between eight and 10 times when he left the tournament site.
He was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead upon arrival.
A teenage boy was also injured in the shooting, with The Times of India stating he suffered a bullet wound to the leg.
Other people close to the incident fled the scene as soon as they heard the gunshots.
Police believe that a personal rivalry or professional jealousy could be the motive behind the killing.
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Both the North India Kabaddi Federation and England Kabaddi Federation have called for a 'speedy probe' into the murder.
Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Parminder Singh of Nakodar Sadar police station said: "A murder case against unidentified persons has been registered.
"People in the area are in a state of shock and panic after the incident."
North India federation president Surjan Singh Chattha and England federation president Surinder Manak have denied any links between players and gangsters or drug money.
Sandeep, a British citizen of 10 years, captained the UK team to several Kabaddi World Cup tournaments and was ranked among the top five players in the world.
He leaves behind his wife and two sons.
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