Kabaddi is a traditional Indian contact sport that originated in ancient India and is now played internationally. The game requires no equipment and is played between two teams of seven players each.
The objective of kabaddi is for a single player on offense, referred to as a raider, to run into the opposing team\“s half of the court, tag out as many of their defenders as possible, and return to their own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders, and in a single breath. The raider must chant kabaddi, kabaddi during the whole raid without taking a breath to prove they are not inhaling.
The court is divided into two halves, with each team occupying one half. The raider enters the opposing team\“s half and tries to touch opponents while continuously chanting kabaddi. Defenders try to stop the raider from returning to their side by tackling them. Points are scored when a raider successfully tags opponents and returns, or when defenders successfully prevent a raider from returning.
The game consists of two 20-minute halves with a 5-minute break. Teams take turns sending raiders. Kabaddi requires strength, speed, and strategic thinking, making it an exciting spectator sport that showcases Indian athletic tradition. |
