Kabaddi (particularly circle kabaddi) [1] is a sport mainly played by the South Asian community in Canada. A number of club competitions take place in Canada, [2] some of which attract players from countries such as India. [3]
Kabaddi is noted for being particularly popular amongst the Punjabi community in Canada. [4] It has become a popular high school sport in some parts of Surrey. [5] [6] [7] Millions of dollars have been invested into kabaddi stadiums in Brampton and Surrey. [8] [9] [10]
Kabaddi tournaments receive support from local businesses, [11] as well as politicians who use them to obtain Punjabi votes. [4] The tournaments have also been used to incentivize South Asians to avoid gang involvement. [12] [13] [14]
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. [1] 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. [4] [15]
Canadians involved in kabaddi have also been alleged to have been involved in drug-related crimes in India. [16]
Kabaddi (particularly circle kabaddi) [1] is a sport mainly played by the South Asian community in Canada. A number of club competitions take place in Canada, [2] some of which attract players from countries such as India. [3]
Kabaddi is noted for being particularly popular amongst the Punjabi community in Canada. [4] It has become a popular high school sport in some parts of Surrey. [5] [6] [7] Millions of dollars have been invested into kabaddi stadiums in Brampton and Surrey. [8] [9] [10]
Kabaddi tournaments receive support from local businesses, [11] as well as politicians who use them to obtain Punjabi votes. [4] The tournaments have also been used to incentivize South Asians to avoid gang involvement. [12] [13] [14]
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. [1] 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. [4] [15]
Canadians involved in kabaddi have also been alleged to have been involved in drug-related crimes in India. [16]