The opening of the first-ever Kabaddi World Cup held outside Asia is just days away, with the seven-day event across the West Midlands set to showcase the sport’s remarkable global growth – up to 500 million are set to tune in worldwide.
Supported by World Kabaddi, hosted by the England Kabaddi Association and delivered by the British Kabaddi League (BKL), tickets are still available for the men’s and women’s competition, which is set to feature the world’s best players with nearly 50 matches held across host local authorities of Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall and Wolverhampton as well as being streamed globally via channels including BBC iPlayer, the Olympic Channel, DD Sports and Willow TV.
Nations from around the world will participate with the tournament underlining the sport’s growing global recognition and appeal. Serving as a powerful symbol of inclusion in sport, the competition is set to celebrate the diversity of the West Midlands region, engaging people from all backgrounds.
Marking the start of the championships, the opening ceremony will be a dynamic and inclusive celebration, bringing together athletes, artists, and the local community in a showcase of music, dance, and cultural pride. The ceremony will feature live music from students at Wolverhampton Music Service, a grand athlete entrance and energetic dance performances from locally-based Bollywood Dreams Dance Company designed to honour the heritage of kabaddi and the communities that support it.
Prem Singh, Chief Executive of the BKL, commented: “We are getting closer to fulfilling a decades-long dream of thousands of kabaddi players by bringing the Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup to the West Midlands region. We are confident the World Cup will create even more opportunities for communities to engage with a sport deeply rooted in its cultural heritage, not least through our partnership with our official charity partner, Sporting Equals.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This is a huge moment for the West Midlands. With millions watching, we’ll show the world why our region is a top destination for global events and a great place to do business.
“This tournament will bring thousands of overseas fans, boosting our economy and celebrating the vibrant South Asian communities that are such a vital part of our region. The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will be more than just a sporting event – it’s a celebration of the diversity, energy, and spirit that makes the West Midlands truly special.”
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Resident Services, said: “We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of men’s and women’s teams from around the globe and are thrilled to host the games in Wolverhampton. From hosting the opening ceremony, to the finals and semi-finals at Aldersley Stadium this is a proud moment for our city.
“This event will highlight Wolverhampton as a premier destination and foster pride among our residents while showcasing our cultural diversity. We appreciate the support of England Kabaddi and Scotland Kabaddi in securing this event. We aim to use the World Cup to introduce kabaddi to more schools, colleges, and universities across the West Midlands, inspiring our young population to be more active. We can’t wait to share the excitement with our community and visitors from around the world.”
Paddy Power himself concluded: “With just five days to go until the Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup, the excitement is building. Kabaddi is coming to the UK, and we’re here to make it unmissable. This tournament is about more than just sport – it’s a celebration of diversity, inclusion, and the sheer brilliance of Kabaddi. With the world’s best players ready, an electric atmosphere on the way, and special moments still in store, this is set to be a tournament to remember.”
Kabaddi, an ancient Indian sport dating back more than 4,000 years, has evolved into one of the most-watched sports in South Asia. With a mix of tactical brilliance, high-speed raids and crunching tackles, Kabaddi involves players earning points by crossing into their opponent’s territory and returning safely. It was included as a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games in 1936 and has been a medal sport at the Asian Games since 1990. Embracing both its historical roots and ever-growing appeal, Kabaddi continues to create opportunities for communities to come together through physical activity.
In addition to support from title sponsor, Paddy Power, the tournament is supported by £500,000 of funding from the UK Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund. The championship also benefits from an official Higher Education sponsorship from the University of Wolverhampton.
If you’re ready to delve into a truly international spectacle of sport – get your tickets and fast. For more information and to purchase yours, visit www.kabaddiworldcup2025.com.
Ends
Issued by:
· Tom Marlow, West Midlands Growth Company: 07918-178194; Tom.Marlow@wmgrowth.com · Ellie Bradwell, Sporting Equals: 07920-759770; ebradwell@sportingequals.org.uk
Information for editors:
Media accreditation:
To register for accreditation, please send an email including name, contact information, media outlet, and confirmation of the dates/venues you’re planning to attend, to: Gemma Williams Fox, gwilliamsfox@gmail.com, by 0900 on 14th March. Please be prepared to show photo ID on arrival.
If you’re unable to attend and/or wish to receive information made available to the media via email – such as reports and imagery – please register for the KWC2025 media mailing list by emailing Gemma Williams Fox, gwilliamsfox@gmail.com.
About The Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025
The Paddy Power 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 tournament is jointly hosted by four local councils: Birmingham City Council, City of Wolverhampton Council, Coventry City Council and Walsall Council and will bring international teams and fans to the region, boosting the local economy and celebrating cultural diversity.
About World Kabaddi
World Kabaddi is the International Federation for the sport of kabaddi, bringing together five continental organisations for Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and Pan America and including more than 50 member National Federations. It organises the Kabaddi World Cup, holding the inaugural edition in Malaysia in 2019 which had India as the first men’s and women’s champions. World Kabaddi has helped to expand one of the world’s most accessible sports, and is striving for International Olympic Committee recognition.
About the British Kabaddi League
The British Kabaddi League (BKL) is the UK’s premier professional league for kabaddi, launched in 2022 by the English Kabaddi Association and Scottish Kabaddi Association. Originally starting from eight teams, it has since expanded and featured nine teams in the most recent edition in 2024, which was streamed live on BBC iPlayer. The BKL is a grassroots-up project, and local community clubs operate all franchises. Their finances are reinvested back into the local community.
About Paddy Power
Paddy Power was born in 1988 when three Irish bookmakers joined forces to shake up the betting world – and let’s be honest, to cause a bit of mayhem along the way. What started as a handful of betting shops has grown into one of the most recognisable entertainment brands on the planet, known for taking bets, taking risks, and never taking itself too seriously.
Since then, we’ve merged with Betfair (2016) and FanDuel (2018), expanded from 30 shops to over 500 across the UK & Ireland, and built a digital empire spanning sports betting, poker, live casino, bingo, and more.
Paddy Power is part of Flutter Entertainment plc, a global sports betting and gaming giant listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
But while we’ve gone big, we’ve never gone boring. Whether it’s giving punters unbeatable value, stirring the pot in the name of fun, or putting our name on sports that deserve the spotlight, we’ll always be Paddy – bold, cheeky, and impossible to ignore.
