# International Kabaddi Federation plans World Cup and women’s league
_The IKF targets eight teams for a franchise-based women’s league and invites World Cup host proposals._

- Publisher: Apex Sports News (https://apexsportsnews.in)
- Canonical URL: https://apexsportsnews.in/news/international-kabaddi-federation-plans-world-cup-and-women-s-league
- Author: Rohit, Sports writer (https://apexsportsnews.in/author/rohit)
- Published: 2026-11-01T19:56:51.842Z
- Section: Kabaddi
- Topics: Hyderabad, International Kabaddi Federation, ProKabaddi League, Kabaddi World Cup
## Summary

The International Kabaddi Federation announced plans for a Kabaddi World Cup and a women’s franchise league after its first executive committee meeting in Hyderabad. The federation also set its sights on Olympic and Commonwealth Games inclusion.

## Key takeaways

- IKF met in Hyderabad and announced World Cup and women’s league plans
- Women’s league will follow ProKabaddi League model with eight teams
- Countries can submit proposals to host the World Cup
- IKF president Kasani Gnaneshwar wants kabaddi in the 2036 Olympics and 2030 Commonwealth Games

## Article

The International Kabaddi Federation announced plans to stage a Kabaddi World Cup and launch a women’s league in the near future after its first executive committee meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday. Representatives from Australia, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Canada, Kenya, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Netherlands and England took part in the meeting.

## The sport and its background

Kabaddi is a contact sport played between two teams of seven players each. A lone member of one team, the raider, enters the opposite half of the court and tries to tag members of the opposition team without being tackled.

In a single raid, often lasting a maximum 30 seconds, points are awarded for successful tags if the raider does not get out, while defenders earn a point if the raider is tackled, goes out of bounds or timed out.

Tagged or tackled players temporarily step out of the game and can be revived when the team scores points. Raids alternate between the teams throughout the game.

Kabaddi is native to the Indian subcontinent and is one of the most popular sports in India, played mainly among village people. India has taken part in four Asian Games in kabaddi and won gold in all.

## The federation and its goals

The International Kabaddi Federation is the international governing body of kabaddi. Its membership comprises 31 national associations. The federation was formed in 2004 and was founded by Ashish Pachori from India, who served as the first president.

The bigger goal, according to Gnaneshwar, is the sport’s inclusion in the 2036 Olympic Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Greater international recognition would inspire more people across the world to take up kabaddi and encourage countries to set aside dedicated funds for its development.

## League, World Cup and next steps

The franchise-based women’s league will follow the ProKabaddi League model, with the IKF targeting eight teams for the inaugural edition. Countries keen on hosting the World Cup have been invited to submit proposals. Gnaneshwar said India had played a part in Iran’s rise and hoped for other nations to develop similarly in the years ahead. Similarly, other countries need to develop for the good of the sport.

### Related on Apex Sports News

- [Kenya men and women take bronze at Commonwealth Kabaddi Championships in India](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/kenya-men-and-women-take-bronze-at-commonwealth-kabaddi-championships-in-india)
- [Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship: India women to face Uganda in title clash](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/commonwealth-kabaddi-championship-india-women-to-face-uganda-in-title-clash)
- [Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: Sri Lanka men and women reach semis](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/commonwealth-kabaddi-championship-2026-sri-lanka-men-and-women-reach-semis)

### Sources

- [sportstar.thehindu.com](https://sportstar.thehindu.com/kabaddi/kabaddi-executive-committee-first-meeting-agena-world-cup-20236-olympics/article71653771.ece)
- [Wikipedia: Kabaddi (background)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabaddi)
- [Photo: Bearas, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2025_Kabaddi_World_Cup_20250322_151435_01.jpg)
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