KIDS in Coventry have been learning how to play kabaddi as the sport’s World Cup comes to the city – the first time the tournament has been held outside of Asia.
Coventry Charger Yash and Perry the Mascot coaching Coventry kids to play kabaddi.
To mark the Kabaddi World Cup (KWC) being held in Coventry, a free schools’ festival took place at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The event included a kabaddi tournament for Coventry schools, cultural activities and performances from local groups.
In partnership with Coventry City Council and United By 2022, Sky Blues in the Community and Coventry City FC led the kabaddi tournament which saw over 100 children from five local schools take to the mat, ready to dodge, dive, and tag their way to victory.
Players from the Coventry Chargers spoke with students from Broad Heath, Edgewick, Holy Family, Sidney Stringer and Earlsdon Primary, offering an introduction to the sport along with expert tips on mastering the game.
Kabaddi is a contact team sport played between two teams of seven players. It is one of the traditional games of South Asia.
The kabaddi school programme, which was rolled out in October last year, continues to deliver kabaddi to the community in several schools in the city. It is set to expand as Coventry moves towards hosting the British Kabaddi League at Centre AT7 in June.
Coun Kamran Caan, Coventry City Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, said: “It is great that we are taking kabaddi and encouraging more young children in the city to get involved, get active and discover a new sport.
“It is important to highlight the sporting opportunities available in the city as well as encouraging more young children to engage in the city’s vibrant sporting culture.
“Coventry boasts a rich sporting legacy, having hosted prestigious events such as the International Children’s Games and Commonwealth Games. The Kabaddi World Cup and the rise of the Coventry Chargers marks the beginning of a new era for sport in the city.”
The winning team from the tournament with Coun Kamran Caan and members of the Coventry Chargers.
The 2025 Kabaddi World Cup takes place from March 17-23, welcoming the world’s best kabaddi players.
It is the first time the prestigious tournament has been held outside of Asia, with the hope to amplify the sport’s profile in the UK. The group stage is taking place at Coventry Building Society Arena.
Paul Michael, Managing Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “Every major sport event we host in Coventry should leave a positive lasting legacy in local communities and the schools’ festival demonstrated that work is already taking shape before the players have taken to the court.
“It was a brilliant way to get the week started and build excitement for the Kabaddi World Cup. This event is all about celebrating diversity and bringing communities together from across the city. The schools’ festival was the perfect embodiment of what we are looking to achieve.”
Marianne Botterill, Community Cohesion Manager at Sky Blues in the Community, added: “We are so proud to be able to continue our work in the local community and schools with our kabaddi delivery, as well as our partnership work with Coventry City Council and Coventry Chargers as part of our Premier League Fans Fund Project.
“We continue to introduce new schools to the amazing sport of kabaddi. What a fantastic experience it has been for the students to put what they have learnt into practice in the World Cup Arena.”
Visit https://kabaddiworldcup2025.com for more information on the tournament, and to buy tickets.
