Coventry University students showcase sports therapy skills on global stage at Kabaddi World Cup

I’d never seen kabaddi before so I had no idea what the injuries were going to be. This has definitely given me more confidence in treating people and even knowing what to say while you’re treating them.

You definitely need to be thinking on the spot as you don’t have a lot of time with the players so need to know what to do straight away.

Hattie Evans, a second-year Sports and Exercise Therapy student

The World Cup has really allowed us to get hands on and a lot of students at universities don’t get that sort of opportunity. This gives you a platform to build your confidence and showcase your skills – it’s been brilliant.

Being in a sports environment and getting used to how people work and being adaptable helps you to build yourself up and be able to back yourself.

Jay-Sen Lavanini, a Sports and Exercise Therapy student in his final year

It’s been absolutely amazing getting the students here on an international stage, and the people they’ve met from players to officials, along with the experience they’ve gained.

It’s something you can’t replicate in the classroom; the environment they’re in, the people they are meeting, it’s real-life stuff. We can teach it in the classroom but actually seeing it in front of them is something so powerful for them.

We’ve got quite a lot of contacts throughout the country for different events and we’ve been lucky enough to be here at the Kabaddi World Cup and that’s something a lot of universities may not experience.

Leanne Raymond, lecturer in Sports and Exercise Therapy