Kabaddi

Kabaddi
Kabaddi being played at the 2018 Asian Games
Highest governing bodyInternational Kabaddi Federation
NicknamesChedugudu, Sadugudu, Kaudi, Pakaada, Ha-du-du, Bhavatik, Saadukuda, Hu-Tu-Tu, Himoshika
Characteristics
ContactFull
Team members7 (per side)
Mixed-sexNo, competitions are separate for male and female
TypeTeam sport, Contact sport
EquipmentNone
VenueKabaddi court
GlossaryGlossary of kabaddi terms
Presence
Country or regionIndian subcontinent[1]
OlympicDemonstration sport: 1936 Olympics
World ChampionshipsKabaddi World Cup Circle-style Kabaddi World Cup

Kabaddi (/kəˈbædi/,[2] /ˈkʌbədi/)[3] is a contact team sport played between two teams of seven players, originating in ancient India.[4] The objective of the game is for a single player on offense, referred to as a "raider", to run into the opposing team's half of the court, touch out as many of their players as possible, and return to their own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders in 30 seconds. Points are scored for each player tagged by the raider, while the opposing team earns a point for stopping the raider. Players are taken out of the game if they are touched or tackled, but return to the game after each point scored by their team from a tag or tackle.

It is popular in the Indian subcontinent and other surrounding Asian countries. Although accounts of kabaddi appear in the history of India, the game was popularised as a competitive sport in the 20th century. It is the national sport of Bangladesh.[5] It is the second most popular and viewed sport in India after cricket.[4][6] It is the state game of the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.[7]

There are two major disciplines: "Punjabi kabaddi", also called "circle style", comprises traditional forms of the sport that are played on a circular field outdoors, and the "standard style", on a rectangular court indoors, is played in major professional leagues and international competitions such as the Asian Games.

This game is known by numerous names in different parts of the Indian subcontinent, such as: kabaddi or chedugudu in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; kabaddi in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala; kabaddi, komonti or ha-du-du in West Bengal and Bangladesh; baibalaa in Maldives, kauddi or kabaddi in the Punjab region; hu-tu-tu in Western India, ha-do-do in Eastern India; chadakudu in South India; kapardi in Nepal; kabadi or sadugudu in Tamil Nadu; and chakgudu in Sri Lanka.[8]

  1. ^ "Kabaddi: The origin, history and evolution of the sport". sportsadda.com. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
  3. ^ kabaddi Cambridge Dictionary
  4. ^ a b Sudevan, Praveen (27 October 2022). "How Pro Kabaddi made kabaddi the most-watched sport in India after cricket". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Bangladesh". Olympic Council of Asia.
  6. ^ "The rise and rise of kabaddi, an Indian sport". The Economist. 6 October 2022. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  7. ^ siddharth (31 December 2016). "Kabaddi Introduction, Rules, Information, History & Competitions". Sportycious. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Kabaddi | Kabbadi Rules | How to play Kabbadi | Kabbadi Players | YoGems". 29 June 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.