Kabaddi becoming popular among Qatari community; first Ramadan Kabaddi Festival 2025 a huge success

Published: 17 March 2025

I was surprised by the large and impressive public attendance at this game, which has begun to spread remarkably in Qatar: Brig. Gen. Dr. Yousef Al Kuwari

NT Bureau

DOHA: The first Ramadan Kabaddi Festival 2025 was an exceptional success in Qatar, bringing a new sport to the Qatari community amidst a unique sporting atmosphere and fun competition at Al Rayyan Park, Al Raya reports.

The Kabaddi Festival saw the participation of approximately 144 players representing eight men’s teams, divided into two groups. The first group included the Knights, Al Majd, Champions, and Al Rayyan teams, while the second group included the Wolves, Stars, Falcons, and Panthers.

Additionally, the festival also featured competitions in the under-18 youth category, with the participation of students from Indian schools.

In terms of attendance, the festival witnessed the presence of a number of prominent figures, who emphasized the importance of the event and the extent of the interest Qatar places in various sports, especially kabaddi, the report adds.

Among the most prominent attendees were H E Major General Mishaal bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Deputy Commander of the Amiri Guard, and Brigadier General Dr. Yousef Dasmal Al Kuwari, President of the Military Sports Federation.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Abdulrahman Al Thani highlighted the importance of these events in supporting Qatari sports. He said: ” We are proud of the success of the first Ramadan Kabaddi Festival, and we look forward to supporting this sport in the future to achieve even greater success.”

Brigadier General Dr. Yousef Dasmal Al Kuwari, President of the Military Sports Federation, said, “I was positively surprised by the large and impressive public attendance at this game, which has begun to spread remarkably in Qatar, especially among school students.”

He noted that there is growing interest in sports and its rapid growth in our society.

He explained that there is a strong desire on the part of the Military Sports Federation to enhance future cooperation with the Asian Kabaddi Federation, in a way that serves the development of the game in the region in general and in Qatar in particular. “We are confident that this sport will continue to grow in the coming years, and we will work hard to support it at all levels.

Regarding the future, Yousef Dasmal emphasized that “we aspire to have a Qatari team capable of competing in major tournaments, most notably the 2030 Asian Games. We are optimistic that Qatar will become an influential sporting force in the world of kabaddi in the near future.”