Defending champions India made a powerful start to their Kabaddi World Cup 2025 campaign with a dominant 64-22 victory over Italy in their opening Group B match on Monday in Wolverhampton, England. This emphatic win propelled India to the top of the group standings with two points.
Strong Start for India and Scotland in Group B
In another Group B match, Scotland defeated Wales 63-43, securing second place behind India.
India will next face Scotland on Tuesday, aiming to continue their winning momentum in Wolverhampton.
Kabaddi World Cup 2025: Tournament Overview
The Kabaddi World Cup 2025 commenced on Monday in England and is being held across four cities in the West Midlands region:
- Birmingham
- Coventry
- Walsall
- Wolverhampton
Both Indian men’s and women’s teams enter the tournament as defending champions, having won their respective titles in the 2019 edition held in Malaysia.
Men’s Tournament Format and Groups
The men’s tournament features 10 teams, divided into two groups:
- Group A: Hungary, England, Poland, Germany, USA
- Group B: India, Italy, Scotland, Wales, Hong Kong
After the round-robin stage, the top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled to begin on Friday, March 21.
Women’s Tournament Format and Fixtures
The women’s tournament includes six teams in two groups:
- Group D: India, Wales, Poland
- Group E: Hong Kong, Hungary, England
The Indian women’s team will begin their title defence against Wales on Tuesday. The top two teams from each group will move on to the semi-finals, also starting Friday, March 21.
Knockout Stage and Grand Finale
The men’s and women’s semi-finals will determine the finalists, followed by third-place playoff matches:
- Women’s third-place match: Friday, March 22
- Men’s third-place match: Saturday, March 23
India’s Past Glory in Kabaddi World Cup
This is the second Kabaddi World Cup organized by World Kabaddi. In the inaugural 2019 tournament held in Malaysia, India secured both the men’s and women’s titles, defeating Iraq and Chinese Taipei, respectively.
With a strong opening performance, the Indian men’s team has once again established itself as a tournament favorite. Fans eagerly await the upcoming matches as India aims to retain its Kabaddi World Cup crown.
