Kabaddi:

A Look Back at the History of the Ancient South Asian Sport

by Dicky Pearce

January 7th 2023

Kabaddi is a popular sport in South Asia that is believed to have originated in ancient India. It is played by two teams of seven players each, who take turns sending a raider into the opposing team's half of the field to try and tag as many opponents as possible before returning to their own half without being tackled. The origins of kabaddi are uncertain, but it is believed to have been played for centuries as a traditional sport in rural areas of India and other South Asian countries. It was first introduced as a demonstration sport at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and has since gained popularity around the world. In the 1980s, kabaddi began to be played professionally in India, with the establishment of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) and the formation of the first national kabaddi team. The sport gained further recognition in the 1990s when it was included as a demonstration sport at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, and later became a full medal sport at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Today, kabaddi is played not only in South Asia but also in countries such as Iran, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. It has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The sport is governed by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), which organizes international tournaments and works to promote the sport globally.

The rules of Kabaddi

The rules of kabaddi are designed to test the endurance, strength, and agility of the players. The game is played on a rectangular field with a center line that divides it into two halves. Each team occupies one half of the field and tries to score points by sending a raider into the other team's half to tag as many players as possible before returning to their own side without being tackled. Here are some of the basic rules of kabaddi: Each team consists of seven players, including six defenders and one raider. The raider has 30 seconds to enter the opposing team's half, tag as many players as possible, and return to their own half without being tackled. If the raider is tackled, they must return to their own half without scoring any points. The raider can also score a point by touching the bonus line at the back of the opposing team's half, without being tackled. The defenders try to tackle the raider and prevent them from returning to their own half. If the raider is tackled, the defending team earns a point. The game is played over two halves of 20 minutes each, with a break in between. The team with the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner. If the score is tied, the game goes into extra time. Players can be cautioned or disqualified for rough play or violating the rules of the game. There are also additional rules and regulations governing the size and markings of the field, the number of substitutions allowed, and the scoring system. The specific rules may vary slightly depending on the competition or organization.

When is the kabaddi championship

The Kabaddi World Cup is a biennial international kabaddi tournament organized by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF). The tournament features teams from around the world, including India, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. The first Kabaddi World Cup was held in 2004 in India, and since then the tournament has been held every two years in different countries. The most recent Kabaddi World Cup was held in 2021 in Ahmedabad, India, and was won by India. The next Kabaddi World Cup is scheduled to be held in 2023 in a location yet to be announced. In addition to the Kabaddi World Cup, there are also other international kabaddi tournaments held throughout the year, including the Asian Kabaddi Championship and the Kabaddi Masters. These tournaments feature teams from different countries competing against each other.