The International Kabaddi Federation is set for a major expansion that could take its global membership to around 80 national federations. The move follows a landmark Annual General Meeting and a two-day conclave held in Hyderabad, India, and represents one of the biggest expansions in the history of the sport.
Representatives from around 35 to 40 aspiring kabaddi nations attended the Hyderabad conclave to formalise their affiliation with the federation. According to IKF Executive Director Kasani Gyaneshwar, the move could almost double the federation’s previous base of around 33 affiliated and provisional members.
The expansion is also an important step in the sport’s long-term ambition of gaining a place in the Olympic Games.
Africa Leads the Expansion
Africa is expected to play a major role in the next phase of global growth of kabaddi. Around 20 new national bodies from the continent are joining the federation under the leadership of African Kabaddi Federation President Dr. Osama Said.
Countries such as Kenya and Uganda have already developed a growing presence in regional kabaddi. The latest expansion will take the sport to more African nations and help create stronger grassroots systems.
The addition of these countries is important because it gives kabaddi a wider presence outside its traditional strongholds. More national federations can also create opportunities for international tournaments, player development and coaching programs.
16 European Nations Set to Join
Europe is another major part of the expansion plan. Around 16 European countries are expected to join the federation under European Kabaddi chief Dalbir Sandhu.
Kabaddi already has established structures in countries including England, Poland, Italy and parts of Scandinavia. The addition of 16 more nations could give European kabaddi a much larger base and create more opportunities for regular international competition.
For the IKF member countries, the expansion could also lead to stronger continental competitions and more organised development programs.
Focus Goes Beyond Membership Numbers
The IKF has made it clear that the expansion is not simply about increasing the number of countries on paper. The federation wants to help new members develop proper kabaddi systems.
Plans include technical assistance, coaching certification, referee development and the creation of standard rectangular mat facilities. These steps are expected to help new federations follow common rules and improve the quality of competitions.
This could be particularly important for developing kabaddi countries in the world where the sport is still at an early stage.
Olympic Dream Gets a Major Boost
Kabaddi’s global expansion is closely connected to its Olympic ambitions. The International Olympic Committee looks for sports that have a strong presence across different continents, along with proper governance, anti doping systems and consistent international rules.
Kabaddi has been a permanent medal sport at the Asian Games since 1990 and has also developed competitions at African and European levels. Expanding the IKF network to around 80 nations would give the sport a much broader international footprint.
The latest move could therefore become an important milestone in the global growth of kabaddi. If the new federations build sustainable programs and remain active internationally, kabaddi will have a stronger foundation as it continues its push for future Olympic inclusion.
