Kabaddi gaining ground in the Blighty

Kabaddi is gaining popularity in Britain, thanks to the growing interest within the South Asian community.

Kabaddi is gaining popularity in Britain, thanks to the growing interest within the South Asian community.

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Immigrants brought kabaddi to Britain from South Asia, with the first clubs being formed in 1969. It caught the attention of mainstream British audiences in the early 1990s.

The game has now spread to Lancashire, where a local organisation, Youth Action at Hyndburn, has been given a grant of €1000 to popularise the game in schools.

The kabaddi project will run in the schools from September to December. Lucy Hamlin, of Youth Action and Hyndburn, said: “We are pleased to have been successful. We are trying to offer alternative sports rather than the usual football.”