Thousands turn out for kabbadi tournament in Coventry

[dutchman]

A Coventry rugby ground became a temporary arena for the city’s annual kabbadi tournament on Sunday.



About 5,000 kabbadi fans flocked to the Coventrians RFC ground in Holbrooks for the 46th showcase of the ancient South Asian team sport.

The lively sporting occasion is held every year in July and is organised by the Coventry Asian Sports Federation.

Organiser Gurbev Singh Hayre has arranged the event since the first kabbadi tournament was held in Coventry in the 1960s, and has watched it grow in popularity.

“This is our biggest attendance yet,” he said.

“The first kabbadis only brought in a few hundred people, now it’s bringing in thousands from around the country each year.

“The game is similar to rugby in many ways.

"It’s the Punjabis favourite game, just as football is the favourite sport of the English.”

Two teams take opposite sides of a field and take turns to send a “raider” into the other half.

To score points the “raider” tackles the opposing team and returns to his own half holding his breath and chanting “kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi”.

This year’s city’s tournament featured 14 teams from around the country, including representatives from London, Leicester, Derby and Birmingham.

Many professional players were paid and travelled from India to appear in the high-profile event.

Such was the interest in yesterday’s event, it was screened live for a Sikh television channel.

“Everyone looks forward to it each year,” Mr Hayre added, “because it’s a great opportunity to bring everyone together, regardless of their religion.

“Anyone is welcome to attend and it’s a good way of getting young people off the streets.”

The event costs about £20,000 in players fees and venue hire to stage, with the majority covered by funding from temples and entrance fees.

The Coventry Asian Sports Federation would like to thank the GNP Gurdwara Temple, the event’s main sponsor, for their continued support.