India Achieves Historic Victory at the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup

Kabaddi World Cup 2025, which was held from 12 June to 26 June in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw the Indian team historically win its third title, confirming its dominance. This tournament emerged as a competition among 16 countries worldwide, featuring top teams from Asia, Europe, Australia and Africa. India secured first place in the group stage with 5 wins, earning a direct entry to the final. In the final they faced the host team of Saudi Arabia, where India recorded a victory with a score of 28-12. This win re-establishes Indian kabaddi on the world stage.

The Kabaddi World Cup 2025 was officially recognized by the International Kabaddi Federation (IWB), making the event one of the largest team sports events in the world. In the tournament, 16 teams were divided into 4 groups and played round‑robin matches. Each match lasted 20 minutes, split into two 10‑minute halves, and points were counted for both defensive and offensive sides. This structure made the game fast and spectator‑friendly.

The final match began at 12:30, when India took a 2-0 lead in the first half. Saudi Arabia scored 5 points in the second half, but India's defensive strategy halted them. The decisive moment came in the 18th minute when an Indian defender tackled the Saudi star player, securing the catch, and the score remained at 28-12. More than 10,000 spectators watched the match live, while 30 crore viewers tuned in to the international broadcast.

In this tournament, Indian captain Arjun Singh delivered a stellar performance with 12 catches and 8 tackles, earning him the Best Player award. Supporting player Rohit Patel contributed 18 points with 4 rushes and 3 blocks, while forward Priya Mehra earned 10 points with 5 rushes and 2 catches. The teamwork and discipline of these players gave India a top position on the global stage.

India's victory in the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 elevated national pride to new heights and became a source of inspiration for young athletes. This success secured additional support for the Indian Kabaddi Federation for further investment and training programmes at the international level. Looking ahead, India's goal is to maintain the same level of excellence in the next World Cup, so that the country's sporting identity can become even stronger on the global platform.