In a significant event at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, the 14th Kudo National Tournament and the 15th Akshay Kumar International Tournament (AKKT) have brought together over 4000 athletes from 38 states across India. Scheduled from November 22 to November 29, the tournament marks the convergence of sports and Bollywood, with renowned actor Akshay Kumar set to present prizes to the victors and the closing share money at the Veer Narmad Dakshin Gujarat University’s convention hall on November 28.
Akshay Kumar’s journey into Kudo, preceding his role in the 2011 film “Rowdy Rathore,” significantly contributed to the martial art’s popularity in India. His talent played a pivotal role in the official introduction of Kudo in India on October 19, 2011. Now, Kudo has received recognition from the Ministry of Sports in the Government of India. The tournament winners not only bask in the glory of their athletic achievements but also gain the privilege of job reservation in central government positions. As Kudo stands on the brink of being featured prominently in the Khelo India Games, Mehul Vora, President of the Kudo International India Federation, envisions a bright future for martial arts in the country.