Wolverhampton has won the honour of hosting the knockout stages and final of the men’s and women’s Kabaddi World Cup in March 2025.
The announcement has been made after the city secured £500,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority’s and HM Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund to support the global event.
Aldersley Leisure Centre, home of top class international darts and snooker, will stage the quarter finals, while the newly transformed The Halls Wolverhampton, will host the semi-finals and final.
As well as staging the group matches alongside Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall, Wolverhampton will also host the opening event as the West Midlands becomes the first destination outside of Asia to host the sport’s most prestigious tournament.
It will feature the world’s best kabaddi players from leading men’s and women’s teams, including India, Iran and Pakistan.
Kabaddi is the fastest growing sport in South Asia, and the second most popular after cricket. Originating in India some 5,000 years ago, the contact sport sees teams broken down into raiders and blockers, with the aim of scoring points by entering opposition territory, tagging an opponent and making it back into their own half without being tackled to the ground. It is now played in more than 50 countries, having grown in stature as a mainstream sport.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Cabinet Member for Visitor City, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup in Wolverhampton and the West Midlands.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming men’s and women’s teams from around the globe and to hosting the finals, semi-finals and quarter finals in our city.
“Events of this scale bring direct and indirect economic benefit and put Wolverhampton firmly on the map as a destination of choice for visitors.”
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