Kabaddi in the United Kingdom

Kabaddi is a contact team sport played mainly by the South Asian community in the United Kingdom.^[1] The British Kabaddi League is the main kabaddi competition in the UK, and is played annually.^[2][3] The 2025 Kabaddi World Cup will be hosted in the West Midlands region of England.^[4][5]

History

Kabaddi was first promoted to a significant extent in the UK when it was shown on Channel 4 in the 1990s.^[6][7] The growth of the South Asian community in the UK has also grown the sport.^[8][9][1] The cost-of-living crisis is also a factor in kabaddi's growth, as it is an inexpensive sport to play.^[10]

Controversy

There have been several incidents of violence at kabaddi tournaments in the UK, as well as alleged ties between kabaddi and gang activities.^[11][12][13]

See also

• Kho kho in the United Kingdom