There are well known sports like football and rugby and there are not so well known sports like croquet. One of the most unknown sports in the world is kabaddi! It originated from ancient India however, it is not their national game. It is however, the national game for Bangladesh. India are the most successful Kabaddi international team having won every trophy possible in both the mens and womens category. Since its foundation it has spread throughout southeast Asia, through to the likes of Japan.
Although there are a few diffferent types of Kabaddi, the most popular one is international Kabaddi. Each team, has 7 players with 3 substitutes and consists of two 20 minute halves with a 5 minute break in between. The teams take turns sending a “raider” into the other half. To win a point, the raider must take a breath, run into the opposing half, tag one or more members of the opposite team, then return to his home half before inhaling again. The raider will chant “kabaddi, kabaddi” with his exhaling breath to show the referee he has not inhaled. The raider will be declared “out” and will not gain the point if he inhales before returning to his side, or returns without touching an opponent. The tagged defender(s) will be “out” if they do not succeed in catching the raider who tagged them. Wrestling the raider to the ground can prevent him escaping before he needs to inhale. When a player is out, the opposition get a point. At the end of thew game the team with the most points win.
Kabaddi is beginning to leave its mark on the UK. The army use the sport to keep fit but in 2013, the UK played host to the 2013 Kabaddi Cup. The sport was bought over by Indian and Pakistani immigrants and we even have our own governing body- The England Kabaddi Foundation UK.
This sport continues to have an impact in many different countries and may soon be a well known, worldwide sport!
Written by Charlie Hawkes
Passmores PE Dept 