England national kabaddi team
| Association | England Kabaddi Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | International Kabaddi Federation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head Coach | Sanjay Patel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain | George Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 (first in 2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group stage (2016) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kabaddi World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 (first in 2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd (2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 (first in 2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd (2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The England National Kabaddi Team was established in 2004 and represents England in international / Rectangle standard style Kabaddi competitions. The main national governing body for Kabaddi (Rectangle) in England is the England Kabaddi Union (EKU) - affiliated to the ProKabaddi League, International Kabaddi Federation and EuroKabaddi[1]. The England Kabaddi Union is the only Kabaddi body in England affiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation.
Another organisation involved with Kabaddi in England, with limited activity and presence is the England Kabaddi Association affiliated with World Kabaddi.[2]
Governance
England Kabaddi Union (EKU)
The England Kabaddi Union (EKU) is the most prominent, well organised and recognised national governing body for Kabaddi in England affiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation. The England Kabaddi Union's (EKU's) original Rules have also been endorsed by the England Kabaddi Federation UK for Rectangle style Kabaddi as the "official rules governing Rectangle Kabaddi in the UK"[3]. EKU's Kabaddi (Rectangle) have also served as the basis for the adoption of the most comprehensive set of Kabaddi (Rectangle) rules by EuroKabaddi and all affiliated European countries[4].
In 2021, the England Kabaddi Union was instrumental in working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport England Kabaddi (DCMS) of the UK Government to bring back Kabaddi post-COVID with the government approved Return-To-Play guidance[5].
The England Kabaddi Union is affiliated with Kabaddi clubs at universities across England including Imperial College London, King's College London, London School of Economics, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and Warwick University [6]- which provide the grassroots system and player pool for the England National Kabaddi Team. The England Kabaddi Union's Referee Certification Programme is recognised across England - with three tiers of Referees. The England Kabaddi Union (EKU) also runs a national coaching certification programme for Kabaddi coaches.
EKU's players Felix Li and Yuvraj Pandeya were also part of the Pro Kabaddi League in 2023 and 2024[7] - playing for Dabang Delhi - purchased for INR 13,00,000 each.
The England Kabaddi Union has also partnered with World Kabaddi for running collaborative training sessions across England and Scotland with Kabaddi Scotland[8]. In the inaugural 2004 Kabaddi World Cup, the team reached the quarter-finals where they lost to Canada.[9][10] In 2022 and 2023, the England team participated in the Bangabandhu Cup held in Bangladesh. The England Kabaddi Union will lead the England Kabaddi Team's participation in both EuroKabaddi tournaments planned in 2026. England were silver medallists at the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup hosted in England, losing to India in the final.
Tournament history
World Cup (IKF)
| World Cup | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rank | M | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD |
| 2004 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 170 | 208 | -38 |
| 2007 | ||||||||
| 2016 | Group stage | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 137 | 155 | −18 |
| 2025 | TBD | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 3/3 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 307 | 363 | −56 |
World Cup (World Kabaddi)
| Kabaddi World Cup | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rank | M | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | |
| 2019 | Didn’t Participate | ||||||||
| 2025 | Runners‑up | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 463 | 182 | +281 | |
| Total | 1/2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 463 | 182 | +281 | |
| Bangabandhu Cup - International Kabaddi Tournament | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rank | M | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | |
| 2022 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 67 | 127 | -60 | |
| 2023 | Group stage | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 166 | 213 | -47 | |
European Kabaddi Championship
Squad
World Cup 2025
Source:[13]
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| George Wellington (c) | Raider |
| Milan Kaushal | Raider |
| Haresh Ganenthiran | Defender |
| Someshwar | All‑rounder |
| Mahesh Popat | Defender |
| Shreyas Annadate | Raider |
| Taaher Kabir | All‑rounder |
| Ahilan Parthipan | Defender |
| Keshav Gupta | Raider |
| Vinay Gupta | All Rounder |
| Felix Li | Defender |
| Yuvraj Pandeya | Defender |
| Shreyas Annadate | Raider |
| Alex Ogden | Raider |
| Jamie Ford | Defender |
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Hania Hussain (c) | Defender |
| Gunalini Gunendran | Defender |
| Aarna Sirohi | Raider |
| Malvika Pandey | All rounder |
| Anisa Khan | All rounder |
| Samreen Sabeer | Raider |
| Kaavya Guhan | Defender |
| Preeya Kaushal | Raider |
Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President (and Head Coach) | Sanjay Patel |
| Vice President | Karmanya Singh |
| Team Logistics and Operations Manager | Kisan Sockalingam |
International grounds
| Stadium | City | Region | Capacity | Matches hosted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barking Sporthouse and Gym | London | Greater London | 1,200 | England Kabaddi Championships, International friendlies | Home of England Kabaddi; regular host of international fixtures |
| Birmingham Arena | Birmingham | West Midlands | 15,800 | Exhibition matches, European Kabaddi events | Multi-sport arena; occasionally hosts high-profile kabaddi matches |
References
- ^ "England Kabaddi Union | Affiliated Sporting Bodies and Affiliated University Clubs".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "OUR HISTORY | England Kabaddi 24". England Kabaddi 24. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ "The England Kabaddi Federation (UK) has officially endorsed and confirmed our EKU Kabaddi rules as the official rules for Kabaddi (Rectangle) in the UK".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "EuroKabaddi - The Official Kabaddi (Rectangle Matted) 7v7 Rule Book". 16 January 2026.
- ^ "EKU's return to Kabaddi guidance has been approved by the UK Government". 18 June 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "England Kabaddi Union - Affiliated University Clubs".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "England Players successful in Pro Kabaddi League Season 10". 30 April 2024.
- ^ "World Kabaddi and England Kabaddi Union (EKU) collaborate for training sessions across England and Scotland".
- ^ "Pak pull out, a dampener". The Indian Express. 19 November 2004. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- ^ "World Cup 2004 – Schedule & Results". International Kabaddi Federation. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- ^ "England win twice in Bangladesh at Bangabandhu Cup 2023!".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "England Kabaddi Union | Bangabandhu Cup 2022".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "PLAYERS | England Kabaddi Union Squad". England Kabaddi Union Squad. Retrieved 2 March 2026.