The West Midlands will host the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup, the World Kabaddi has announced. The sport is played in more than 50 countries under the World Kabaddi auspices and the British Kabaddi League was launched ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham recently.
The UK region will become the first destination outside of Asia to host the sport’s most prestigious global tournament, it was announced in New Delhi on November 11 (Friday).
The last World Cup was held in the historic city of Melaka in 2019. World Kabaddi is expected to make an announcement soon on the hosting of the World Cups in 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, the cream of kabaddi players from leading men’s and women’s teams, including India, Iran and Pakistan are expected to take part in the tournament across the West Midland’s during the first quarter of 2025.
The news was revealed as part of a West Midlands trade mission to India (6-12 November), led by the region’s Mayor Andy Street and Portfolio Lead for Economy and Innovation at the West Midlands Combined Authority, Cllr Ian Brookfield.
The week-long mission will create opportunities for bilateral trade and investment between India, the West Midlands and wider UK.
The event will be organised by England Kabaddi, Scottish Kabaddi and the British Kabaddi League. Plans for the tournament include a Business and Trade event, showcasing the best of Indian businesses in the West Midlands.
“Kabaddi is a sport for everybody, regardless of age, gender or social background. As we’ve seen with the launch of the British Kabaddi League earlier this year, and the vibrancy and ambition on show during the hugely successful Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the West Midlands is a region, which promotes positive community engagement, celebrates cultural diversity and inclusion, and loves its sport.
“We look forward to engaging with businesses and people across the West Midlands and introducing more new fans to our fast and entertaining sport as we create a memorable first World Cup outside of Asia.”
World Kabaddi is pleased to announce that the England Kabaddi Association (EKA) has been confirmed as the hosts of the 2025 World Cup Kabaddi Championships.