1. Introduction:
Kabaddi is one of the games that symbolize the cultural diplomacy of India. This sport originated in Tamil Nadu, a state known for its cultural heritage. It is a group game in which each team has 7 players on the court, and additional players are also present as reserves. This sport is played in many countries, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and so on.
It is known by different names, such as ‘gudu’ in Sri Lanka, ‘Theechub’ in Thailand. Even within India, it is known by different names. It is known as ‘Sadugudu’ in southern India, ‘Hu-tu-tu’ in western India, ‘Ha-do-do’ in eastern India
2. History:
This sport is an art that symbolizes the history of Tamil Nadu. The game signifies strength, courage, team spirit, and physical endurance. Let us look into the history of this sport.
2.1. Early days:
It is a game that is formed from the principles of ‘hunting’ and ‘self-defense’. In the Vedic period, Kabaddi was played as a physical exercise for pupils in gurukuls. The sport is also considered to have been played by Lord Krishna himself and by Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha) during the early days. The game of Kabaddi is also mentioned in the ‘Mahabharata’. It is believed that the word Kabaddi originated from the word ‘Kai-pidi’, which means ‘holding hands’ in Tamil. The reason for the name came because people hold each other’s hands while a raider raids and tries to tackle him/her, which is the main aim of the sport.
2.2. Present Indian level:
Proper rules for Kabaddi were published in 1923. Following these rules, the Kabaddi Federation of India was formed. National championships for men (1952) and for women (1955) were conducted. The sport grew further, and it was included in the Asian Games of 1990. There’s a league called ‘PKL’ (Premier Kabaddi League) in India, which brings talented players from all over the country. There’s also an ‘Indian Men Kabaddi team’ which has won several Asian Games and World Cups. Apart from PKL, currently, there are many domestic leagues: Super Kabaddi League, Yuva Kabaddi League, etc., which promote youth participation. People watch these games enthusiastically, and players play wholeheartedly.
2.3. Present International level:
The Amateur Kabaddi Federation(AKF) was formed in 1972, and it collaborated with the Indian Olympic Association(IOA). They tried their best to make Kabaddi a sport in the Olympics. But it wasn’t accepted. But Kabaddi was once introduced in the 1936 Olympics for promotional purposes as a demonstration sport.
Apart from these international levels, Kabaddi is played in schools, colleges, and universities. Children play these games in the streets whenever they are free. From a street game, it evolved into an organised game with the formation of federations and passionate teams at the national and international levels.
3. Significance of the game:
Even though it has its nativity in Tamil Nadu, it’s the national sport of Bangladesh. The sport, which initially started only for men, saw a transition. Presently, both men and women excel in this game. The game is not about gender. It is about the strength, tactics, and concentration of the players that win the game. Even though it can be a brutal game, players are expected to maintain dignity, or else they will be given warnings or disqualified from their careers.
The Sangam literature has mentioned Kabaddi in many books. They even state that Buddha played this game. Apart from India, this game is heavily patronized in the country of Iran. In the current days, Kabaddi has evolved into different types, such as:
- Beach Kabaddi – played on the seashore
- Indoor Kabaddi – played inside courts.
4. The rules of playing:
4.1. Raiding:
When it comes to raiding, a player from one team enters the opposite team’s side of the court. This player is called a raider. The player must continuously say ‘Kabaddi Kabaddi…’ throughout his raid. The maximum time for a raid is 30 seconds. The raider tries to tag as many opposition players as possible and must cross the centre line to reach his/her side of the court. If the raider succeeds, the point is awarded based on the number of players he touched. The players whom the raider touched must leave the court. When all the 7 players of a team get out, the situation is called ‘All-out,’ and an extra 2 points are given to the raiders’ team.
Raids are an alternative for the teams. A toss decides the first move. The team that wins the toss decides the first move: either going for a raid or defending. Both teams switch sides after the half-time interval of the match. The game goes on for 40 minutes: 20-break-20. Coaches can call ‘Time-outs’ in between if they want, to give advice to their players.
4.2. Defending:
The defenders of the team must not allow the raider to reach the centre line. If they succeed, the point is awarded to the team that successfully defends the raider. There’s a situation called ‘Super-Tackle’ which gives 2 points if the team has only 2 people left on the court and they manage to tackle the raider.
There is also a line called the ‘Bonus-line’. It awards one extra point. This one point is available only if there are more than 6 players on the team against which the raider raids. The players must not cross the border of the court. If they do so, it will lead to awarding a point for the opposition team.
5. Pop culture:
When it comes to pop culture, the game of Kabaddi is mentioned in many books and movies. Tamil movies like ‘Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu’ and ‘Ghilli’ were directed on the theme of this sport. Even Hindi movies like Panga and Kabaddi Once Again also promote the sport’s emotional and competitive side.
The PKL – a national tournament in India for Kabaddi, has a huge fan base. It is telecast live on Star Sports. People can also watch the sport live in stadiums. The players are celebrated hugely by the fans.
Conclusion:
Even though significant changes have happened over the years, the basic concept, the spirit of the players, and the aim of the sport remain the same. Kabaddi continues to represent the cultural significance and heritage of Tamil Nadu. Its journey from mythological references and gurukuls to world championships shows how deeply the sport is rooted in history yet adaptable to modern generations. May this sport be cherished forever.
References:
- https://www.indiankabaddi.org/history-of-kabaddi.html
- https://www.britannica.com/sports/kabaddi
- https://sportsmatik.com/sports/kabaddi/about
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabaddi
- https://bharatiyakhel.in/training-material/