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University to host British Kabaddi League 2023

26/04/2023
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The University of Wolverhampton is pleased to announce its Walsall Campus Sports Centre will host the British Kabaddi League (BKL) later this month.

Kabaddi is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and is the most popular sport after cricket, in South Asia. It’s a popular team sport, comprising of skill and power, and conflates the characteristics of wrestling and rugby, with the foot techniques of badminton and fencing. 

The British Kabaddi League (BKL) was formed last year by English and Scottish Kabaddi, with support from the West Midlands Growth Company and its Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), set up to attract more visitors and investors to the region following the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Since the league’s inception in 2022, the sport has gone from strength to strength in the UK with the West Midlands hosting the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup for the first time.

Over the next eight weeks, the BKL will compete in four British League competition weekends at central venues across the West Midlands before the final in Glasgow.

The University of Wolverhampton’s Sports Centre, based at its Walsall Campus on Gorway Road, will host the Walsall Kabaddi Grand Prix from April 28 until April 30.

James_DaleJames Dale, Head of WLV Sport and Physical Activity at the University, said: “We are so proud to be hosting the BKL and welcoming competitors from across the UK to our Walsall Campus.

“By its nature, Kabaddi is inclusive and supports our vision to remove barriers to participation and provide a wider offering of sport and physical activity for all.

“We hope that the event is just the start for Kabaddi within our community and will see many come together and support the rise of Kabaddi across the West Midlands in preparation for the World Cup in 2025.”


Prem Singh, CEO of British Kabaddi, said: “As we embark on a second exciting year of Kabaddi action in the UK, it fills me with pride at how the league has grown over 12 months, with new teams joining the league, and a new Kabaddi Grand Prix tournament in Walsall.

“Last year's inaugural tournament was an enormous success, and a great platform to build on as we expand the league. With the ongoing support of the West Midlands Growth Company, we very much look forward to our 10 teams battling it out to become champions.”

The event is open to all and will be free of charge for attendees to watch and show their support.

Full list of events:

Wolverhampton Kabaddi Grand Prix – 8th & 9th April. Wolverhampton Active Aldersley, Aldersley Rd, Wolverhampton, WV6 9NW

Walsall Kabaddi Grand Prix – 28th, 29th & 30th April. University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Campus, Gorway Rd, Walsall, WS1 3BD

Birmingham Kabaddi Grand Prix – 20th & 21st May. Nechells Wellbeing Centre, Rupert St, Birmingham, B7 4AR

Glasgow BKL Final – 27th & 28th May. Glasgow Club Bellahouston, Glasgow, G52 1HH

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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