Kabaddi in the United Kingdom
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Kabaddi is a contact team sport played mainly by the South Asian community in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |title=Kabaddi gaining popularity in Britain |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/kabaddi-gaining-popularity-in-britain-400415 |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=NDTV.com}} The British Kabaddi League is the main kabaddi competition in the UK, and is played annually.[https://www.manchesterworld.uk/news/manchester-raiders-team-british-kabaddi-league-competitions-second-season-starts-4095874 Manchester Raiders: team in British Kabaddi League bidding for glory as competition’s second season starts] https://www.manchesterworld.uk/ Andrew Nowell{{Cite news |title=Birmingham defend kabaddi crown in Glasgow |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/get-inspired/65727957 |access-date=22 August 2023}} The 2025 Kabaddi World Cup will be hosted in the West Midlands region of England.{{Cite web |date=12 November 2022 |title=West Midlands region named host of 2025 Kabaddi World Cup |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1130337/kabaddi-world-cup-2025 |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=www.insidethegames.biz}}{{Cite web |last=Traub |first=Matt |date=16 November 2022 |title=2025 Kabaddi World Cup Heading to West Midlands |url=https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/2025-kabaddi-world-cup-heading-to-west-midlands/ |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=SportsTravel |language=en-US}}
History
Kabaddi was first promoted to a significant extent in the UK when it was shown on Channel 4 in the 1990s.{{Cite web |date=30 April 2022 |title=Man behind British Kabaddi League explains fastest growing sport and impact in Scotland |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/20104940.prem-singh-opens-fastest-growing-sport-never-heard-ahead-glasgow-finals/ |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=HeraldScotland |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wellings |first=Lee |title=Kabaddi striving for a global audience |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2014/8/16/kabaddi-striving-for-a-global-audience |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}} The growth of the South Asian community in the UK has also grown the sport.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Hardeep |date=22 August 2023 |title=Why did it all kick off at a Kabaddi tournament in Derby? |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-did-it-all-kick-off-at-a-kabaddi-tournament-in-derby/ |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=The Spectator |language=en-US}}[https://www.mykhel.com/kabaddi/indian-game-kabaddi-popular-britain-018314.html Kabaddi becoming popular in Britain] https://www.mykhel.com/ The cost-of-living crisis is also a factor in kabaddi's growth, as it is an inexpensive sport to play.{{Cite news |date=8 April 2023 |title=British Kabaddi League kicks off this weekend |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/british-kabaddi-league-kicks-off-this-weekend/articleshow/99328709.cms?from=mdr |access-date=22 August 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}
Controversy
There have been several incidents of violence at kabaddi tournaments in the UK, as well as alleged ties between kabaddi and gang activities.{{Cite news |date=22 August 2023 |title=Four arrests as police investigate large-scale violence at Derbyshire kabaddi event |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/four-arrests-as-police-investigate-large-scale-violence-at-derbyshire-kabaddi-event/articleshow/102918119.cms?from=mdr |access-date=22 August 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite news |last=Bullen |first=Jamie |date=21 August 2023 |title=Watch: Mass brawl with ‘guns and swords’ erupts at Punjabi sport event |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/21/alvaston-india-kabaddi-tournament-derby-gang-gun-violence/ |access-date=22 August 2023 |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news |last=Calcutta |first=Saptarshi Ray |date=22 August 2023 |title=Briton’s murder in India exposes gangland ties to kabaddi |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/britons-murder-in-india-exposes-gangland-ties-to-kabaddi-6ltfg5mcq |access-date=22 August 2023 |issn=0140-0460}}
See also
References
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