Kabaddi

Kabaddi match in progress

Kabaddi (sometimes transliterated Kabbadi or Kabadi)(Hindi: कबड्डी; IPA: [kəbəɖɖi]) is a team contact sport that originated in Tamil Nadu, India^[1], a game for preparing soldiers. Two teams occupy opposite halves of a field and take turns sending a "raider" into the other half, in order to win points by tagging or wrestling members of the opposing team; the raider then tries to return to his own half, holding his breath and chanting "kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi" during the whole raid. The name — often chanted during a game — derives from a Hindi word meaning "holding of breath", which is indeed the crucial aspect of play. It is the national game of Bangladesh, and the state game of Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in India.

Gameplay

Kabaddi at the Asian Games 2006

In the international team version of kabaddi, two teams of seven members each occupy opposite halves of a field of 13m × 10m in case of men and 12m X 10m in case of women.^[2] Each has three supplementary players held in reserve. The game is played with 20 minute halves and a five minute halftime break during which the teams exchange sides.

Teams take turns sending a "raider" to the opposite team's half, where the goal is to tag or wrestle ("confine") members of the opposite team before returning to the home half. Tagged members are "out" and temporarily sent off the field.

Meanwhile, defenders must form a chain, for example, by linking hands; if the chain is broken, a member of the defending team is sent off. The goal of the defenders is to stop the raider from returning to the home side before taking a breath.

The raider is sent off the field if: 1.If the raider takes a breath before returning or 2.If the raider crosses boundary line or 3.A part of the raider's body touches the ground outside the boundary. (except during a struggle with an opposing team member.)

Each time a player is out the opposing team earns a point. A team scores a bonus of two points, called a lona, if the entire opposing team is declared out. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins.

Matches are categorized based on age and weight. Six officials supervise a match: one referee, two umpires, a scorer and two assistant scorers.

Forms of Kabaddi

Amar

In the 'Amar' form of Kabaddi, whenever any player is touched (out), he does not go out of the court, but stays inside, and one point is awarded to the team that touched him. This game is also played on a time basis, i.e the time is fixed. This form of kabaddi is played in Punjab, Canada, England, New Zealand, USA, Pakistan and Australia. In the Amar form of Kabaddi, each team consists of 5-6 stoppers and 4-5 raiders. At one time, only 4 stoppers are allowed to play on the field. Every time a stopper stops the raider from going back to his starting point, that stoppers team gets 1 point. On the other hand, every time the raider tags one of the stoppers and returns to his starting point, his team gets one point. At one time, only one of the stoppers can try to stop the raider. If more than one touch the raider, an automatic point is awarded to the raider's team. If the stopper is pushed out by the raider or vice versa, then the team whose member is still in the field gets a point. If both the raider and the stopper go out, the result is a common point, where nobody gets a point.

Surjeevani

In Surjeevani Kabaddi, one player is revived against one player of the opposite team who is out, one out, one in. The duration, the number of players, dimensions of the court, etc. have been fixed by the Kabaddi Federation of India. This form of Kabaddi is the closest to the present game. In this form of Kabaddi, players are put out and revived and the game lasts 40 minutes with a 5-minute break in between. There are nine players on each side. The team that puts out all the players on the opponent's side scores four extra points for a 'Iona'. The winning team is the one that scores most points after 40 minutes. The field is bigger in this form of Kabaddi and the 'cant' different in various regions. Modern Kabaddi resembles this form of Kabaddi especially with regard to 'out & revival system' and 'Iona'. The present form of Kabaddi is a synthesis of all these forms with changes in the rules.^[3][4]

Gaminee

This is played with nine players on either side, in a field of no specific measurements. The characteristic is that a player put out has to remain out until all his team members are out. The team that is successful in putting out all the players of the opponent's side secures a point. This is akin to the present system of 'Iona'. After all the players are put out, the team is revived and the game continues. The game continues until five or seven 'Iona' are secured. The game has no fixed time. The main disadvantage of this form of Kabaddi is that the player Is not in position to give his best performance since he is likely to remain out for the better part of the match until an Iona is scored.^[3][4]

History and development

The game, known as Hu-Tu-Tu in Western India, Ha-Do-Do in Eastern India and Bangladesh, Chedugudu or Sadugudu in Southern India and Kaunbada in Northern India, has changed through the ages. Modem Kabaddi is a synthesis of the game played in various forms under different names.^[3]

There are claims by some that Kabaddi is game version of the Chakravyuha an ancient war strategy and defensive formation. Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna enters breaks into the Chakravyuha and is the enemy, the Kauravas

Kabaddi received international exposure during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, demonstrated by Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal, Amaravati, Maharashtra. The game was introduced in the Indian Olympic Games at Calcutta in 1938. In 1950 the All India Kabaddi Federation came into existence and compiled standard rules. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) was founded in 1973. After formation of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, the first men's nationals were held in Madras (re-named Chennai), while the women's were in Calcutta in 1955.The AKFI has given new shape to the rules and has the right to modify them. The Asian Kabaddi Federation was founded under the chairmanship of Mr. Janardan Singh Gehlot.

Asian Amateur Kabaddi Federation is now headed By Mr. Janardan Singh Gehlot as President and Mr. Muhammad Sarwar as Secretary General.

Kabaddi was introduced and popularized in Japan in 1979. The Asian Amateur Kabaddi Federation sent Prof. Sundar Ram of India to tour Japan for two months to introduce the game.

In 1979, a return test between Bangladesh and India was held at different places of India including Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Punjab. The Asian Kabaddi Championship was arranged in 1980 and India emerged as champion and Bangladesh runner-up. Bangladesh became runner-up again in 1985 in the Asian Kabaddi Championship held in Jaipur, India. The other teams in the tournament were Nepal, Malaysia and Japan. The game was included for the first time in the Asian Games in Beijing in 1990. India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh took part. India won the gold medal and has won gold at the following three Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994, Bangkok in 1998 and Busan in 2002. India won the gold medal in the 2006 Asian Games at Doha.

Attempts to popularize kabaddi in Great Britain saw British TV network Channel 4 commission a programme dedicated to the sport. The show, Kabaddi, on Channel 4 in the early 1990s, failed to capture viewers despite fixtures such as West Bengal Police versus the Punjab. Kabaddi was axed in 1992, but not before its presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy suffered a collapsed lung while participating in the sport.^[5]

In the 1998 Asian games the Indian Kabaddi team defeated Pakistan in a thrilling final match at Bangkok (Thailand). The chief coach of the team was former kabaddi player and coach Flt. Lt. S P Singh.

The first World Kabaddi Championship was held in Hamilton, Canada, when 14,000 people at the Copps Coliseum watched top players from India, Pakistan, Canada, England and the United States. The next edition was in Surrey, British Columbia, which host the first all-kabaddi stadium.^[6][7] India has remained world champion since it was included in Asian Games and South Asian Federation games. In 2008 Sukhbir Singh Badal mooted a professional world kabbadi league with sponsorship to attract the best players; this league will be based in India with tournaments in Canada as well. The current Kabaddi Championship team consists of several local Indian players, Himanshu Batta, Ravi Venkataya, Harman Dhaliwal, Kapil Singh and Mayank Gauri.^[8]

Kabaddi is now a very popular game and is a regular sport in Asian Games, Asian Indoor Games and Asian Beach Games apart from SAF Games. Kabaddi will be a demonstration sport during Commonwealth Games 2010 at New Delhi.^[9]

Promotion & 1st World Cup

Kabaddi is the state game of Punjab a nothern state of India. Giving a much needed boost to India's(Punjabi) traditional sport, the Punjab government organised Circle Style Kabaddi World Cup 2010 from 03.04.2010 to 12.04.2010 On April 12, 2010 Indian team emerged as the winners after beating Pakistan in the finals.

The opening match of the tournament was held in Patiala while the closing ceremony took place in Ludhiana.

India won the first edition of the Circle Style Kabaddi World Cup, Beating their arch rivals Pakistan by a huge margin in a 58-24 victory. The final of this 10-day tournament was played at jam-packed floodlit Guru Nanak Stadium.

Besides a glittering trophy, the victorious Indian team received a cheque of Rs.1 crore whereas Pakistan took home Rs.51 lakh.

Complete results can be found on the website of International Kabaddi Federation http://www.kabaddiikf.com

Federations

The Kabaddi Federation of India (KFI) was founded in 1950, and it compiled a standard set of rules. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) was founded in 1973.The AKFI has given new shape to the rules and it has also the rights of modification in the rules. The Asian Kabaddi Federation was founded under the chairmanship of Sharad Pawar.

AKFI logo

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The Governing body of Kabaddi in Asia is Asian Kabaddi Federation (AAKF) headed by Mr. Janardan Singh Gehlot. AAKF is affiliated to Olympic Council of Asia. Web Site is http://www.asiankabaddi.org Parent body to regulate the game at international level is International Kabaddi Federation (IKF). The website is http://www.kabaddiikf.com

Kabaddi is a very popular game in Bangladesh, especially in the villages it is also called the 'game of rural Bengal'. In fact it is the national Game of Bangladesh. In some areas Kabaddi is also known as Ha-du-du. But despite its popularity Ha-du-du had no definite rules and it used to be played with different rules in different areas. Ha-du-du was given the name Kabaddi and the status of National Game of Bangladesh in 1972 .

Bangladesh Amateur Kabaddi Federation was formed in 1973 . It framed rules and regulations for the game. Bangladesh first played a Kabaddi test in 1974 with a visiting Indian team, which played test matches with the district teams of Dhaka, Tangail, Dinajpur, Jessore, Faridpur and Comilla . In 1978, the Asian Amateur Kabaddi Federation was formed at a conference of delegates from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan in the Indian town of Villai .

In 1979, a return test between Bangladesh and India was held at different places of India including Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Punjab. The Asian Kabaddi Championship was successfully arranged in 1980 and India emerged as the champion and Bangladesh as the runners-up. Bangladesh became runners-up again in 1985 in Asian Kabaddi Championship held in Jaipur, India. The other teams included in the tournament were Nepal, Malaysia and Japan. Kabaddi was played as a demonstration sport at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. The game was included for the first time in Asian Games held in Beijing in 1990. Eight countries took part including India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. India won the gold medal and has since won gold at the following three Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994, Bangkok in 1998,Busan in 2002,and in Doha 2006.In Iran , Kabaddi has taken a wide pace and is the only country to spend a million $ annually for development of this sport.Kabaddi was started in Iran with the help of prominent Indian Family CHANDHOK's , who have been born and brought up in IRAN. Iran currently plays all forms i.e. Asian Beach and Circle , Puneet Chandhok who advises the Iranian Kabaddi Federation regualarly is planning to set up this sport in nearby nations too.

Kabaddi is popular throughout South Asia, and has also spread to Southeast Asia, Japan and Iran. It is the national game of Bangladesh where it is known as Haḍuḍu. It is the state game of Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra in India. It is played by the British Army for fun, to keep fit and as an enticement to recruit soldiers from the British Asian community.^[10]

Skills

• Holding breath
• Raid
• Dodging
• Movement of hand and foot
• Formation
• Safe Raid
• Holding
• Kick
  • Side Kick
  • Front Kick
  • Round Kick
  • Sitting Kick
• Offensive Skills
• Starting a Raid
• Body Position during Raid
• Movements during Raid
• Penetration
• Touching with the hand
  • Vertical swing of arms
  • Horizontal swing of arms
• Defensive Skills
  • Wrist catch or Lock
  • Crocodile Hold
  • Over the shoulder catch
  • Ankle catch and lock
  • Elephant stance
  • Charging elephant
• Taunting^[11]

National member of International Kabaddi Federation

Asia

1. Afghanistan
2. Bangladesh
3. Bhutan
4. Cambodia
5. Chinese Taipei
6. India
7. Indonesia
8. Iran
9. Japan
10. Kyrgyzstan
11. Malaysia
12. Maldives
13. Nepal
14. Oman
15. Pakistan
16. South Korea
17. Sri Lanka
18. Thailand
19. Turkmenistan

Europe

1. Austria
2. France
3. Germany
4. Great Britain
5. Italy
6. Norway
7. Spain
8. Sweden

Oceania

1. Australia

Pan America

1. Canada
2. United States
3.  West Indies

Kabaddi World Cup

Kabaddi World cup was first played in 2004 and then in 2007 and 2010. So far India is the unbeaten champion in Kabaddi World Cup. Iran is the next successful nation with being twice runner-up. Pakistan is runner-up only once in 2010.

Results of Kabaddi World Cup so far:-

Year	India's Position	Last Match played by India	Winner	Runner-up
2010	Winner	India vs. Pakistan (Final match) 58 - 24	India	Pakistan
2007	Winner	India vs. Iran (Final match) 29 - 19	India	Iran
2004	Winner	India vs. Iran (Final match) 55 - 27	India	Iran

Participation of nations in the Kabaddi world cup so far is as follows:-

Country	Participation in World Cup	Winner	Runner Ups
India	2004, 2007, 2010	2004, 2007, 2010	None
Iran	2004, 2007, 2010	None	2004, 2007
Pakistan	2004, 2007, 2010	None	2010
United Kingdom	2007, 2010	None	None
Italy	2007, 2010	None	None
Afghanistan	2007	None	None
Australia	2010	None	None
Bangladesh	2007	None	None
Canada	2010	None	None
Japan	2007	None	None
Kyrgyzstan	2007	None	None
Malaysia	2007	None	None
Nepal	2007	None	None
South Korea	2007	None	None
Spain	2010	None	None
Thailand	2007	None	None
Turkmenistan	2007	None	None
United States	2010	None	None
West Indies	2007	None	None

See also

• Kabaddi at the Asian Games
• Kho kho
• Kusti
• Tag
• Okkadu, Kabaddi Kabaddi - Tollywood films focusing mainly on Kabaddi.
• Ghilli - a Tamil film focusing mainly on Kabaddi.
• Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu a Tamil film focusing on Kabaddi Championships

References

External links

• International Kabaddi Federation
• Asian Amateur Kabaddi Federation
• Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India
• Iran Kabaddi Federation
• Japan Kabaddi Association
• International Kabaddi Teams