The origin
The game of Kabbadi is one of the oldest games of Indian origin. More than 4000 years ago the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata describes a battle between the warrior Abhimanyu the heir of the Pandava Kings with the Cauravas inside the enemy camp. He managed to penetrate their seven tiered defense, but died because he did not know the way out. Kabaddi is basically an outdoor team game played on level and soft ground which requires both skill and power and combines the characteristics of wrestling and rugby. It was originally meant to develop self defense in addition to responses to attack and reflexes of counter attack by individuals and defense by groups or teams. It is believed that Kabaddi was invented to develop a defensive responses by an individual against group attacks and group’s responses to an individual attack. This is the only combative sport in which offence is an individual effort whereas defense is a group effort.
History also reveals that the Gautam Buddha played Kabaddi for recreation at his early ages.
Disciplines
The game consists of three major disciplines: Kabaddi (Traditional style), Beach Kabaddi (Beach style) and Circle Kabaddi ( Circle style).
Equipment
Basically a simple inexpensive game played out door on level soft ground or sand, and neither requires sophisticated equipment , nor any expensive equipment. Later from the 3rd Asian Kabaddi Championship in Colombo, Sri Lanka in April 2000, the International Kabaddi tournaments were introduced as an indoor games and played on Eva foam mats.
Skills
It is very difficult for an individual to face group of opponents and remain unscathed. This calls for tremendous fitness of body and mind and the ability to concentrate as well as anticipate the opponent’s moves. The Game demands agility, muscular co-ordination, breath holding capacity, speed, strength, stamina, catching, kicking, as well as quick responses and a great deal of presence of mind.
Duration
The game of Kabaddi is played between two teams for a duration of 45 minutes for men and Youth with a 5 minutes break in between for the teams to change sides and 35 minutes for women and junior boys and girls with a 5 minutes break in between for the teams to change sides.
Object
Kabaddi aims for people in maintaining their health always fit through the game. It also aims to develop the skills of self defense, attack as well as survival.
Slogan
” Play Kabaddi for Peace & Harmony “
Popularity of the game
The excitement and thrill provided by the game has made it very popular and Kabaddi is rightly called the Game of the masses, since spectators totally involve themselves and give the players a great deal of encouragement. More than fifty (50) million people of 65 countries of the world play this game.
The game in most popular and played in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Iran, Korea, Argentina, Canada, U.K, Italy, China, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia and many more countries. Most of these countries are conducting their National championships and other tournaments every year.
Kabaddi first became officially recognised during the demonstration match played in Berlin Olympic Games 1936 and it was included as a demonstration game in the IX Asian Games hosted by India in the year 1982. Kabaddi was included as a regular sports discipline of South Asian Games from the year 1984 played in Dhaka, Bangladesh and also included as regular sports discipline of Asian Games from XI Asian Games held in the year 1990 at Beijing, China.
As per the official request of WKF, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has assured the recognition of the Kabaddi sport upon having a minimum of 50 affiliated National Federation.