World Kabaddi today celebrates the official 100-day countdown to the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 which will be held in Wolverhampton and the West Midlands between 17th and 23rd March 2025, with the team draw for the 16 participating nations taking part in the competition. World Kabaddi is delighted to announce bookmaker Paddy Power as the competition’s Title Sponsor at the launch event which welcomes around 200 West Midlands partners and stakeholders to enjoy an exhibition kabaddi match.
The West Midlands will be hosting the sport’s leading global tournament, welcoming the world’s best kabaddi players from men’s and women’s teams from across the five member continents of World Kabaddi, including Africa, Asia, Oceania, Pan America and Europe. Teams from India, China, USA and Pakistan as well as home nation teams from England and Scotland will compete for the World Cup, the first time the competition has been hosted outside of Asia.
Kabaddi is an ancient sport which can be traced to pre-historic times when man learned how to defend in groups against animals or attack weaker animals individually or in groups for survival and food. Kabaddi was played as a demonstration sport at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and is now the fastest-growing sport in South Asia; it is played in World Kabaddi’s 50 member countries. The contact sport sees teams broken down into raiders and defenders, with the aim of scoring points by entering opposition territory, tagging an opponent and making it back into their own half without being tackled to the ground. The Pro Kabaddi League in India is the second most watched sports league in that country, second only to cricket’s Indian Premier League.
Ashok Das, President of World Kabaddi, said:
“We have been working closely with the City of Wolverhampton Council, West Midlands Growth Company and partners over the last two years to plan the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 and are excited to be now drawing the teams for the competition. The West Midlands was a straightforward choice for us – not just for its great sporting pedigree, but it is a region that celebrates its cultural diversity, engages all its communities and is centrally located in the UK to allow ease of access to the competition from across the country.
“Kabaddi has a rich heritage and above all has the power to bring nations, communities and people together to enjoy the game, socialise and unite as a team. Teamwork is the key to success and this World Cup has come about as a result of tremendous teamwork between World Kabaddi, British Kabaddi League, our member nations and associations and our hosts, the West Midlands and particularly the great city of Wolverhampton.”
“Kabaddi is chaotic, combative, and absolutely bonkers – in other words, it’s everything that, as a brand, Paddy Power loves about sport” said spokesperson for Irish bookie, Paddy Power himself.
“We’re thrilled to be the Title Sponsor of the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 and to bring this incredible game to a brand new audience. Expect banter, big hits, and breathtaking entertainment – this is sport, Paddy Power style.”
The Kabaddi World Cup 2025 has received £500,000 of funding from the UK Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund following a joint bid by City of Wolverhampton Council and World Kabaddi. This application was successfully approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority, marking the one-year anniversary of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The funding ensures the Games’ positive and enduring legacy will continue to benefit the entire region, increasing access to sport and culture, boosting the West Midlands’s reputation as a world-class host for major events and drive inward investment and tourism.
City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said:
“We are thrilled to announce the official launch of the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup in Wolverhampton! We look forward to welcoming men’s and women’s teams from around the globe and hosting the games in our vibrant city.
“Hosting the Kabaddi World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for Wolverhampton, and we are incredibly proud to be hosting the finals and semi-finals at Aldersley Stadium. This event will put our city and region on the map as a premier destination for visitors while also fostering a sense of pride and excitement among our residents.
“We are grateful for the support of our partners, including England Kabaddi and Scotland Kabaddi, whose collaboration has been instrumental in securing this event. We also look forward to working with all organisations involved to use the World Cup as a catalyst for introducing kabaddi into more schools, colleges, and universities across the West Midlands, inspiring our young and diverse population to become more physically active and engaged in sport.
“This is a momentous occasion, and we can’t wait to share the excitement with our community and visitors from around the world.”
Prem Singh, Chief Executive of the British Kabaddi League, added:
“Everyone can enjoy Kabaddi and we’re looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible to get involved, no matter their age, gender or background. We’ve already experienced the great hospitality of the West Midlands during the successful British Kabaddi League season this year, celebrating local teams including the Birmingham Bulls, Walsall Hunters, Wolverhampton Wolfpack and newly formed Coventry Chargers – doubtless players from these teams will be selected to play for their national team.
“We are thrilled that the Kabaddi World Cup will be hosted in the vibrant West Midlands, with events taking place across Wolverhampton, Walsall, Birmingham, and Coventry. This is not only a significant milestone for the sport but also a tremendous opportunity for the region. The tournament is expected to attract global attention, bringing economic benefits and tourism to the area. More importantly, it provides a platform to celebrate and champion kabaddi, a sport deeply rooted in South Asian culture and widely played across its communities.”
Nik Trivedi – Director of Development at official charity partner, Sporting Equals, welcomed their partnership with the Kabaddi World Cup, saying:
“Sporting Equals is delighted to announce its role as the official charity partner for the Kabaddi World Cup 2025. This partnership reflects our ongoing collaboration with the British Kabaddi League (BKL) to promote the sport within the UK, enhancing its visibility and fostering greater recognition. Over the years, we have worked tirelessly to support kabaddi as a dynamic, inclusive sport that resonates with diverse communities, particularly those of South Asian heritage.
At Sporting Equals, we are committed to driving social change through sports by addressing inequalities and encouraging participation from underrepresented groups. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission, as kabaddi represents a sport that breaks barriers, unites communities, and fosters inclusivity. Together with BKL and other stakeholders, we aim to ensure that the Kabaddi World Cup leaves a lasting legacy by inspiring more people to engage with the sport, empowering communities, and showcasing the transformative power of sports in building stronger, more cohesive societies.”
Professor Ebrahim Adia, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, University of Wolverhampton, welcomed the event to the University’s historic Chancellor’s Hall building, confirming:
“The University of Wolverhampton is delighted to be the exclusive Higher Education partner for the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 and a host venue both for the world cup fixtures and the Kabaddi World Cup launch event. As an anchor institution in Wolverhampton and with extensive links in India, we are proud to commit to such a historic sporting event that centres on inclusion and engaging our staff, students and local communities.”
The 16 nations taking part in the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 are:
- Asia: India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, China
- Europe: England, Scotland, Italy, Poland
- Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon, Egypt
- Pan America: USA
Tickets for the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will go on sale shortly and the public are invited to register their interest and find out more at www.kabaddiworldcup2025.com
