Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month: Spotlight on the England Kabaddi Federation

Exploring how a traditional South Asian sport is building community, fostering inclusion, and shaping a more diverse and representative sporting landscape across the United Kingdom.

Each year, South Asian Heritage Month (18 July – 17 August) offers an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of people with roots in South Asia, a region encompassing Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. At the Sport and Recreation Alliance, we wanted to use this as a moment to shine a light on the powerful role South Asians play in shaping sport and physical activity across the UK.

This year, we’re proud to highlight the work of one of our members, the England Kabaddi Federation UK (EKF UK), the national governing body dedicated to promoting, regulating, and growing the sport of Kabaddi across the United Kingdom.

Kabaddi: A Sport Rooted in South Asian Culture

For those unfamiliar, Kabaddi is a fast-paced, high-intensity contact sport with roots in ancient India. Often described as a mix of tag and wrestling, it comes in two distinct forms: National Style and Circle Style Kabaddi. Each has its own rules, team sizes, and playing areas.

National Style Kabaddi is played in a ground roughly the size of a tennis court by two teams of seven players, with the aim of scoring points by sending a "raider" into the opposing team's half to tag as many defenders as possible. You can read the full rules here: National Style Kabaddi Rules

Circle Style Kabaddi takes place on a much larger pitch, about the size of a cricket ground with two teams of twelve. Each team is split into six “raiders” and six “stoppers.” The format is more of a one-on-one contest, with a raider attempting to tag a single stopper before escaping. You can read the full rules here: Circle Style Kabaddi Rules

Traditionally, in both styles, raiders had to hold their breath while chanting “kabaddi, kabaddi” so referees could tell if they inhaled mid-play. However, due to frequent rule breaches, this has been replaced with a timed approach. Raiders now have 30 seconds to complete their attempt and return to their side.

Kabaddi, a sport with ancient origins in South Asia, blends athleticism, strategy, and teamwork. Played by millions globally, it’s particularly popular in India and Pakistan, but its influence is expanding far beyond the subcontinent, including right here in the UK.

For many British Asians, Kabaddi is more than just a sport. It’s a cultural touchstone, a reminder of heritage, family, and identity. The rise of Kabaddi in England reflects the dynamism of British South Asian communities, who continue to bring traditional sports into modern contexts.

The Role of the England Kabaddi Federation UK

Since its formation, the EKF UK has played a pivotal role in the formal development and professionalisation of the sport in England. By establishing local clubs, national leagues, training opportunities, and pathways for international competition, the Federation has created structures that allow Kabaddi to flourish.

A major milestone came in 2004, when England’s national team, under the Federation’s guidance, reached the quarter-finals of the Kabaddi World Cup, making history on the global stage. Fast forward to 2025, and England’s men’s and women’s teams once again made headlines as runners-up in the Kabaddi World Cup, which was hosted in the West Midlands, the first time the tournament has been held in the UK.

Crucially, the Federation’s work has centred on inclusion, ensuring that those outside of the traditional Kabaddi-playing communities have opportunities to participate and thrive. In doing so, they are building bridges between cultures and generations, making Kabaddi a truly British sport. One of their aims is to “to encourage and promote social integration amongst different communities in the United Kingdom.”

Why Representation Matters

South Asians make up over 9% of the UK population yet remain significantly underrepresented in many parts of the sport and recreation sector, particularly in elite-level coaching, board leadership, and national governing bodies. Supporting organisations like the England Kabaddi Federation helps challenge these disparities and opens the door to more inclusive sport leadership.

Celebrating heritage also means recognising and valuing different routes into sport. For some, sport is discovered through school PE or local athletics clubs. For others, it’s playing Kabaddi at a community event or watching elders take part in informal matches in parks and halls. All these routes are valid and valuable, and each has a role to play in shaping a more diverse sporting landscape.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate South Asian Heritage Month, we do so not only to honour the past, but to embrace the promise of the future. The work of the England Kabaddi Federation UK shows how a sport rooted in ancient tradition can thrive in modern Britain, building community, fostering identity, and opening doors to opportunity.

At the Sport and Recreation Alliance, we are committed to championing equality, diversity, and inclusion across every level of sport and physical activity. That means supporting organisations like EKF UK, investing in inclusive governance, and ensuring that every community, including British South Asians, has the opportunity to participate, lead, and thrive in sport.

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