Fans seek a taste of Kabaddi World Cup action as tickets go on sale
Tickets for the first Kabaddi World Cup to be hosted in the UK have gone on sale, as fans from across the world visit the West Midlands to get in on the action.
It is the first time the championships have been hosted outside of Asia.
Hosted as a joint venture between World Kabaddi, the British Kabaddi League, West Midlands Combined Authority and the four hosting local authorities of Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham and Walsall, the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 will take place in venues across the region between 17 and 23 March.
The tournament is supported by £500,000 in funding support from the UK Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund.
The key dates and locations for fans to note are:
- Group stages: 17 to 21 March in Wolverhampton, Coventry, Birmingham and Walsall
- Men’s Quarter Finals: 21 March, Walsall
- Men’s and Women’s Semi Finals: 22 March, Wolverhampton
- Men’s and Women’s Finals: 23 March, Wolverhampton.
When tickets launch, fans will have only 52 days to get their hands on tickets for their desired event. Ticket prices will range from £5 - £25, depending on the event day and denomination of ticket.
Ashok Das, president of World Kabaddi, said: “When I first had a vision to introduce my much-loved sport to the UK over 20 years ago, I could never have anticipated that this day would come.
“The day where we switch on ticket sales for the first Kabaddi World Cup to take place outside Asia, right here in my home in the West Midlands.
“Over the last 20 years we have grown grass roots engagement in Kabaddi, with a thriving UK league, and now we’re hosting the biggest tournament in our sport, on the world stage, welcoming the world’s best teams for a fun, energetic and interactive celebration of South Asian sport.
“We could not have reached this exciting day without the support of West Midlands Combined Authority and the West Midlands Growth Company, the four hosting councils of Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall, our title sponsor, Paddy Power, the University of Wolverhampton, our associate sponsors and our charity sponsor, Sporting Equals.”
West Midlands mayor Richard Parker said: “Becoming the first place outside South Asia to host the Kabaddi World Cup 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.”
The ancient sport of kabaddi, which is popular in South Asia and the most-watched sports league in India after cricket’s Indian Premier League, is a fast-paced contact sport where the aim is to enter your opponents’ territory, tag them, and make it back without being tackled.
The event’s title sponsor, Paddy Power, described it as “chaotic, combative, and absolutely bonkers – everything that we love.”
Fans will enjoy the spectacle of competition between 16 nations, both men’s and women’s teams, as they vie for the trophy.
The West Midlands will welcome players, supporters, and spectators from countries like India, USA, Kenya, Tanzania, and those closer to home from both Scotland and England providing an economic boost for the region.
Spectators will also get to enjoy a celebration of the sport in both the opening and closing ceremonies which promise to engage fans of all ages.
