Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article

2023-09-21T14:31:36Z

Creating a new article

New page

{{Short description|A contact team sport played in Canada}}
{{Orphan|date=September 2023}}

[[Kabaddi]] (particularly [[circle kabaddi]])<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-07 |title=Canada Calling: Kabaddi and crime in maple country |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/canada-calling-kabaddi-and-crime-in-maple-country-8596434/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> is a sport mainly played by the South Asian community in Canada. A number of club competitions take place in Canada,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=Have you played kabaddi? Hard-hitting sport coming to Windsor for inaugural tournament |url=https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/have-you-played-kabaddi-hard-hitting-sport-coming-to-windsor-for-inaugural-tournament-1.6493904 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Windsor |language=en}}</ref> some of which attract players from countries such as India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-30 |title=On high ground |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/on-high-ground/story-k9za2mcXrHBbYq3cW5JrII.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
Kabaddi is noted for being particularly popular amongst the Punjabi community in Canada.<ref name=":1">[https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/feds-open-door-to-more-foreign-players-for-controversial-sport-of-kabaddi Feds open door to more foreign players for kabaddi] https://vancouversun.com/ Peter O'Neil</ref> It has become a popular high school sport in some parts of Surrey.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-19 |title=PHOTOS: Kabaddi players raid and stop in Surrey as the sport takes root in local high schools |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/sports/photos-kabaddi-players-raid-and-stop-in-surrey-as-the-sport-takes-root-in-local-high-schools-2988694 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Surrey Now-Leader |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mall |first=posted by: Rattan |date=2017-06-07 |title=Kabaddi takes off in a spectacular manner in Surrey schools (update: semi-finals results) |url=https://voiceonline.com/kabaddi-spectacular-schools/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Indo-Canadian Voice |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kabaddi-surrey-high-school-brings-generations-1.4148940 Surrey high school Kabaddi league brings generations together] https://www.cbc.ca/ Tina Lovgreen</ref> Millions of dollars have been invested into kabaddi stadiums in Brampton and Surrey.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guardian |first=Graeme Frisque Brampton |date=2023-06-26 |title='Never seen a tournament that big': Popularity of Punjabi contact sport Kabaddi exploding in Brampton |url=https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/council/never-seen-a-tournament-that-big-popularity-of-punjabi-contact-sport-kabaddi-exploding-in-brampton/article_59e03541-7a65-5e65-afcd-a072d588e55b.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Brampton Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New $3.7 million Kabaddi stadium is coming to Surrey {{!}} Urbanized |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-bc-kabaddi-stadium |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=dailyhive.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/brampton-kabaddi-players-to-get-new-stadium-1.1130702 Brampton Kabaddi players to get new stadium] https://www.cbc.ca/</ref>

Kabaddi tournaments receive support from local businesses,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Witt |first=Emily |date=2008-10-30 |title=Indian sport kabaddi comes to Queens |url=https://www.qchron.com/news/south/indian-sport-kabaddi-comes-to-queens/article_70e28225-01e4-5dba-8774-06cd982a0be8.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Queens Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> as well as politicians who use them to obtain Punjabi votes.<ref name=":1" /> The tournaments have also been used to incentivize South Asians to avoid gang involvement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-15 |title='Kabaddi' world cup diverts Surrey youth from gangs |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/kabaddi-world-cup-diverts-surrey-youth-from-gangs-1.4014537 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=British Columbia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-16 |title=PHOTOS/VIDEO: Anti-gang focus for youth Kabaddi World Cup at Surrey park |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/sports/photos-video-anti-gang-focus-for-youth-kabaddi-world-cup-at-surrey-park-2952909 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Surrey Now-Leader |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Roveena Jassal Staff |date=2023-06-18 |title=Kabaddi season kicks off in Canada |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/kabaddi-season-kicks-off-in-canada/article_fbd5913c-c039-5721-9179-b0100d2ef4e9.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
Kabaddi has been alleged to have ties to gangsterism; for example, the National Kabaddi Association President, Kamaljit Singh ‘Neetu’ Kang, was targeted in a drive-by shooting.<ref name=":0" /> Other allegations include links to people-smuggling and drug abuse; of the 261 Indian kabaddi players who entered Canada between 2014 and 2017, only about half returned to India.<ref name=":1" /><ref>[https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-half-of-indian-athletes-who-came-to-canada-failed-to-go-home Douglas Todd: Half of Indian athletes who came to Canada failed to go home] https://vancouversun.com/ Douglas Todd</ref>

Canadians involved in kabaddi have also been alleged to have been involved in drug-related crimes in India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-03 |title=After drugs, money laundering taint hits Punjab kabaddi |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/after-drugs-money-laundering-taint-hits-punjab-kabaddi/story-g5AFcKNrAJBamYAl6ZHdFK.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Sports in Canada]]

Kabaddi in Canada - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article