Kabaddi World Cup kicks off in Wolverhampton

The first Kabaddi World Cup to be staged outside Asia is under way in Wolverhampton.

Events will be held in venues across the region and they are expected to attract a global audience of around 500 million, organisers said.

The first match between England and Hungary men's teams was held at WV Active in Aldersley.

The final is on 23 March with games played in Walsall, Birmingham and Coventry

Prem Singh, chief executive officer of the British Kabaddi League, said it was stressful but enjoyable.

"For us to bring the Kabaddi World Cup to the West Midlands and Wolverhampton - it was very ambitious in the first place," he said.

"The majority for the funding for kabaddi comes from the Indian market and we've managed to do the Kabaddi World Cup here with not a penny from overseas money and everything is done locally and nationally in the UK so that to us is a huge triumph."

He said the tournament will be broadcast to nine television channels around the world including in India, Malaysia, the US and Africa.

The ancient sport dates back more than 4,000 years and involves players earning points by crossing into their opponent's territory and returning safely.

Thousands of fans are expected to travel from overseas and it kicks off a "momentous month of sport" in the West Midlands with the region hosting three major international tournaments in March.

Mr Singh said the sport appealed to many people.

"We don't have that much participation in rugby and football but kabaddi is the support you're going to have.

"South Asian players in the England team that are going to represent England - which doesn't happen that often, but I can tell you they're all very proud to be wearing the England kabaddi shirt and representing, he said.

He said he thought the England versus Scotland meeting further on in the tournament would be a good match because of the "natural rivalry".

"Our origins might be South Asian but when England line up against Scotland there's always going to be fireworks and I think it's going to happen.

"We hope the referees are strong enough to control the emotions."

People who know the sport will see the technical skills and ability, he said.

"For someone who is not used to it, it will be like watching a well-organised British Bulldog match in the playground," he added.

"At the end of the day it's going across a line, touching someone and getting back without being tackled, pulled to the ground. So if you can do that then that's successful."

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