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England national kabaddi team

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England
Image
AssociationEngland Kabaddi Association (EKA), England Kabaddi Union (EKU)
ConfederationInternational Kabaddi Federation,

World Kabaddi,

World Kabaddi Federation

For the sport, Kabaddi (Rectangle) in England, there are multiple national governing bodies which field their own respective England National Kabaddi Team. The two main governing bodies are England Kabaddi Association (EKA)[1] and England Kabaddi Union (EKU)[2].

Governance

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England Kabaddi Association (EKA)

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Image
Men's team at the 2025 World Cup.

The England Kabaddi Association (EKA) was established in 2003–2004 by Ashok Das.[3] The England team was affiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation during the 2000s and early 2010s[3] and subsequently with World Kabaddi[4] and World Kabaddi Federation[5].

In the inaugural 2004 Kabaddi World Cup in Mumbai, the team reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to Canada.[6][7]

The England team also participated in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup in India while affiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation.[8]

In 2016, the England Kabaddi Association helped facilitate the participation of England player Philip Mottram in the Pro Kabaddi League, where he was selected by Bengaluru Bulls.[9]

Image
Hardeep (Harry) Singh, English national team captain, at the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup (World Kabaddi).

From 2022 to 2024, the England Kabaddi Association and the Scottish Kabaddi Association jointly organised the British Kabaddi League.[10] The league featured teams from across England and Scotland and was broadcast on BBC Sport.[11][12] Birmingham Bulls won the first two seasons[13][14][15], while Glasgow Unicorns won the 2024 season[16].

The England Kabaddi Association also organises domestic competitions, including the England Nationals 2025[17] and the England Pro Kabaddi League (EPKL)[18][19].

In the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup, hosted in England, the team reached the final and won a silver medal, losing to India.[20]

The England Kabaddi Association has participated in European Kabaddi Championships, including tournaments held in Italy and Cyprus.[21][22][23]  

Outside Kabaddi (Rectangle), the England Kabaddi Association has also fielded teams in other kabaddi formats, including Circle Kabaddi.[24][25]

England Kabaddi Union (EKU)

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The England Kabaddi Union (EKU) was formed in 2019[26] and is affiliated with the International Kabaddi Federation[2] and EuroKabaddi[2].

The England Kabaddi Union (EKU) compiled and produced the UK's first standardised set of rules, which were endorsed by the England Kabaddi Federation UK for Rectangle style Kabaddi as the "official rules governing Rectangle Kabaddi in the UK".[27] The rules are not universally used within the UK, with some organisations using their own rulesets.

The EuroKabaddi rules for Rectangle Kabaddi were drafted by Karmanya Singh and Sanjay Patel, the vice-president and president, respectively, of the England Kabaddi Union.[28]

In 2021, the England Kabaddi Union worked with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) of the UK Government to bring back Kabaddi following the COVID-19 pandemic with government-approved Return-To-Play guidance.[29]

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[30] which provide the grassroots system and player pool for England Kabaddi Union’s National Kabaddi Team.

The England Kabaddi Union operates a three-tier referee certification programme and a national coaching certification programme for kabaddi coaches.[31]

In 2023, the England Kabaddi Union entered Felix Li and Yuvraj Pandeya into the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 auction, where both players were acquired by Dabang Delhi KC for INR 13,00,000 each. Both players were part of the team's squad during the season.[32]

The England Kabaddi Union has also partnered with World Kabaddi for running collaborative training sessions across England and Scotland with Kabaddi Scotland.[33]

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EKU England Men's team at the Bangabandhu Cup 2023

In 2022, the EKU England team made their debut at the Bangabandhu Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh, losing all three of their matches against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, finishing in the group stage.[34] In the 2023 tournament, England defeated Poland and Argentina but lost to Bangladesh, Iraq and Nepal, finishing fourth in their group.[35]

In 2026, the England Kabaddi Union led England's participation in the inaugural EuroKabaddi 3v3 Championship, which England won after defeating Poland in the final.[36] England is also scheduled to participate in the EuroKabaddi Beach Kabaddi Championship later in 2026.

Tournament history

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World Cup

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International Kabaddi Federation

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World Cup (IKF)
Org Year Rank M W D L PF PA PD
EKA India 2004 Quarter-finals 4 2 0 2 170 208 -38
India 2007
EKA India 2016Group stage5203137155−18
Total3/39405307363−56

World Kabaddi

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Kabaddi World Cup (World Kabaddi)
Org Year Rank M W D L PF PA PD
Malaysia 2019Didn’t Participate
EKA England 2025Runners‑up6501463182+281
Total1/26501463182+281

European Tournaments

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European Kabaddi Championship (European Kabaddi Federation)

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European Kabaddi Championship (European Kabaddi Federation)
Org Year Rank M W D L PF PA PD
Scotland 2019Didn’t Participate
EKA Cyprus 2021Group stage420212295+27
EKA Italy 2023Champion4301129101+28
EKA Italy 2024 Runners‑up 4 3 0 1 - - -
EKA Italy 2025 Champion - - - - - - -

3V3 (EuroKabaddi)

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EuroKabaddi 3v3 championships (EuroKabaddi)
Org Year Rank M W D L PF PA PD
EKU Poland 2026Champion5401---

Other international tournaments

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Bangabandhu Cup

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Bangabandhu Cup - International Kabaddi Tournament[35][37]
Org Year Rank M W D L PF PA PD
EKU Bangladesh 2022Group stage 3 0 0 3 67 127 -60
EKU Bangladesh 2023Group stage5203166213-47

Squad

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Selected squads from recent international tournaments:

England Kabaddi Association (EKA)

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World Cup 2025

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Source:[38]

Men
No Player Role
1 Amanatpreet Singh Raider
3 Abhijith Krishnan Raider
4 John DunlopRaider
5 Jugraj SinghAll‑rounder
7 Jorawar SinghDefender
8 Mandeep Singh Left Corner
9 George WellingtonRaider
10 Ekom Singh Raider
11 Sagar DoddaiahRight Corner
12 Mashood KoorattanteAll Rounder
14 Felix Li Left Cover
22 Hardeep "Harry" Singh (Captain)Right Cover
50 Shreyas AnnadateRaider
64 Alex Ogden Raider
Women
No Player Role
1 Imane Sibhi Raider
2 Emma Jones Defender
3 Athira Sunil (Captain) All rounder
4 Veerpal Kaur Raider
5 Sophia Klair Defender
6 Neelima Uni Suma All rounder
7 Sally Hill Defender
8 Georgia Sargent Defender
9 Neeraja Uni Suma All rounder
10 Pressymol Preni Defender
11 Simarpreet Kaur Defender
13 Sima Pacenkaite Defender
23 Manpreet Kaur Defender
30 Piraveena Sivanesalingham Raider

England Kabaddi Union (EKU)

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Bangabandhu Cup 2023

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Source:[39]

Men
Player Role
Someshwar Kalia (Captain) All Rounder
Keshav Gupta (Vice Captain) Raider
Ahilan ParthipanDefender
Akul PurohitDefender
Felix LiDefender
Mahesh Popat Defender
Philip MottramRaider
Shreyas Annadate Raider
Tom DawtreyAll Rounder
Vinay GuptaAll Rounder
Yuvraj Pandeya Defender
Kishan MistryCoach

Beach Kabaddi 2024

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Men
Player Role
George Wellington (Captain) Raider
Taaher Kabir All rounder
Haresh GanenthiranDefender
Milan KaushalRaider
Someshwar KaliaAll rounder
Shreyas Annadate Raider
Mahesh PopatDefender
Women
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

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England Kabaddi Union (EKU)

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Position Name
President (and Head Coach) England Sanjay Patel
Vice President India Karmanya Singh
Team Logistics and Operations Manager England Kisan Sockalingam

References

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  1. ↑ "England Kabaddi Association | The Official EKA Website". England Kabaddi 24. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "England Kabaddi Union | National governing body for Kabaddi in England". EnglandKabaddiUnion. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 "OUR HISTORY | England Kabaddi 24". England Kabaddi 24. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Kabaddi Europe - HOME OF KABADDI". HOME OF KABADDI. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "WKF News in Brief: | World Kabaddi Federation". Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to International Kabaddi Federation". www.kabaddiikf.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to International Kabaddi Federation". www.kabaddiikf.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Singh, C. P. (6 October 2016). "2016 Kabaddi World Cup kicks off in Ahmedabad". NewZNew. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Philip Nicholas George Mottram - Kabaddi player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Inaugural British Kabaddi League launches In UK following international success". www.meetbirmingham.com. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Watch: British Kabaddi League in Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Press Release 29th March 2022 - British Kabaddi League". www.holdsport.net. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Glasgow and Edinburgh teams feature in inaugural British Kabaddi League". Sport First. 0001-01-01. Retrieved 2026-08-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ↑ "British Kabaddi League returns for second year of exciting action". visitbirmingham.com. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Birmingham Bulls win inaugural British Kabaddi League 2023 | England Kabaddi 24". England Kabaddi 24. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "A massive congratulations to Glasgow Unicorns | England Kabaddi 24". England Kabaddi 24. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  17. ↑ KABADDI CO (2 November 2025). BIRMINGHAM BULLS VS LONDON LION EKA NATIONAL KABADDI CHAMPIONSHIP 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2026 – via YouTube.
  18. ↑ "England Pro Kabaddi League | England Kabaddi 24". England Kabaddi 24. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Kabaddi World Cup ends in spectacular style in city | City Of Wolverhampton Council". www.wolverhampton.gov.uk. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  22. ↑ connect@tocyber.co.uk (19 June 2023). "6th Open European Kabaddi championship". europeankabaddifederation.com. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "6th European Kabaddi Championship Italy 2023 | England Kabaddi 24". England Kabaddi 24. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Pukaar News (11 February 2015). England Women's Kabaddi Team Prepare for World Cup. Retrieved 23 August 2026 – via YouTube.
  25. ↑ Team, Pukaar (28 November 2014). "England Women's Kabaddi Team Prepare for World Cup". Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "England Kabaddi Union | LinkedIn". uk.linkedin.com. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "EuroKabaddi - The Official Kabaddi (Rectangle Matted) 7v7 Rule Book". 16 January 2026.
  29. ↑ Union, England Kabaddi (17 June 2021). "EKU's return to Kabaddi guidance has been approved by the UK Government". EnglandKabaddiUnion. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "Clubs & Affiliates | England Kabaddi Union". EnglandKabaddiUnion. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "Coaches". EnglandKabaddiUnion. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  32. ↑ Union, England Kabaddi (16 October 2023). "England players purchased in the Pro Kabaddi League". EnglandKabaddiUnion. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  33. ↑ "World Kabaddi and England Kabaddi Union (EKU) collaborate for training sessions across England and Scotland". Facebook.
  34. ↑ Union, England Kabaddi (1 September 2022). "Bangabandhu Cup 2022". EnglandKabaddiUnion. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  35. 1 2 Union, England Kabaddi (1 May 2023). "England win twice in Bangladesh at Bangabandhu Cup 2023!". EnglandKabaddiUnion. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  36. ↑ Union, England Kabaddi (22 April 2026). "England are 3v3 European Champions!". EnglandKabaddiUnion. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  37. ↑ "England Kabaddi Union | Bangabandhu Cup 2022". September 2022.
  38. ↑ "PLAYERS | England Kabaddi 24". England Kabaddi 24. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "PLAYERS | England Kabaddi Union Squad". England Kabaddi Union Squad. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
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