Kabaddi World Cup 'huge moment' for West Midlands

Tourism bosses in the West Midlands have said the first Kabaddi World Cup to be held outside Asia will be a "huge moment" for the region.

The event will be held in venues across the region starting on Monday and is expected to attract a global audience of around 500 million.

Venues in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Walsall will host almost 50 matches across the seven-day tournament, which ends on 23 March.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said the competition will give the region a chance to show why it is a "top destination for global events".

Kabaddi is an ancient Indian sport dating back more than 4,000 years and involves players earning points by crossing into their opponent's territory and returning safely.

The World Cup is set to feature men's and women's teams from across the world, including from India, Iran and Pakistan.

Home nation teams from England and Scotland are also competing.

Mr Parker said hosting the event is a "huge moment for the West Midlands".

"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," he said.

"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."

The World Cup is sponsored by Paddy Power and has additional funding of £500,000 from the UK Government's Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund and a higher education sponsorship from the University of Wolverhampton.

Bhupinder Gakhal, a City of Wolverhampton Council cabinet member for resident services, also welcomed the tournament: "This is a proud moment for our city.

"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."

The opening ceremony will be held on Monday at the Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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