How a traditional South Asian sport is being reimagined on the global stage
In short: Kabaddi, a fast-paced contact sport, is undergoing a major international expansion. While historically rooted in South Asia, the World Kabaddi organization is actively pushing the game into Europe, Africa, and North America. By hosting tournaments outside of India and establishing new governing bodies, the sport is evolving into a truly global competition.
The World Kabaddi organization was established on 24 March 2018, a date now commemorated annually as World Kabaddi Day. Unlike other governing bodies, World Kabaddi has made a deliberate effort to host its World Cup events outside of India to encourage international participation. This strategy has seen the tournament travel to diverse locations, including Melaka, Malaysia, in 2019, and the West Midlands in the United Kingdom in 2025. The 2025 event spanned multiple cities, including Wolverhampton, Walsall, Birmingham, and Coventry, with support from the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The competitive structure of the World Cup follows a standard indoor format on a rectangular court, featuring both men's and women's national teams. The tournament format consists of an initial round-robin phase followed by a high-stakes knockout stage. India has dominated the competition thus far, winning both the men's and women's titles in the 2019 and 2025 editions. Other nations, such as England, Iraq, Taiwan, Malaysia, Scotland, and Hong Kong China, have also secured podium finishes, demonstrating the growing reach of the sport beyond its traditional heartlands.
As of 2024, World Kabaddi boasts more than 50 member countries. However, the landscape remains complex, as some nations maintain separate governing bodies to participate in events sanctioned by either the International Kabaddi Federation or World Kabaddi. Looking ahead, the organization is focused on North America, with the 2027 World Cup scheduled to be held in Canada. This expansion is supported by regional bodies like the Pan America Kabaddi Association and the Canada Kabaddi Alliance, which have been promoting the sport through domestic championships and leagues featuring international talent from countries such as Argentina and the United States.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Kabaddi World Cup (World Kabaddi)
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