Types of Kabaddi

Kabaddi is an ancient game played in several parts of India, and its origin is traced from Indian mythology {for example- Abhimanyu invented in during Mahabharata battle}. In different parts of India, different forms of this game evolved; and modern Kabaddi is basically a synthesis of these different types of games. In India, still four kinds of Kabaddi are played viz. Sanjeevni Kabaddi, Gaminee Kabaddi, Amar Kabaddi and Punjabi Kabaddi.

• In Sanjeevani Kabaddi, one player is revived against one player of the opposite team who is out – one out. The game is played over 40 minutes with a five-minute break between halves. There are seven players on each side and the team that outs all the players on the opponent’s side scores four extra points.
• In Gaminee Kabaddi, seven players play on either side or a player put out has to remain out until all his team members are out. The team that is successful in ousting all the players of the opponent’s side secures a point. The game continues until five or seven such points are secured and has no fixed time duration.
• Amar Kabaddi resembles the Sanjeevani form in the time frame rule. But, a player who is declared out doesn’t leave the court, but instead stays inside, and the play goes along. For every player of the opposition touched ‘out,’ a team earns a point.
• Punjabi Kabaddi is played on a circular pitch of a diameter of 22 meters.
• Kabaddi was first introduced in 1938 in Indian National Games at Calcutta. The All India Kabaddi Federation came into existence in 1950, and it was reconstituted as Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) in 1972. First Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in 1980, in which India emerged as Champion. In 2016, India hosted the Kabaddi World Cup also.

Bangladesh adopted Kabaddi as its National Game {Hadudu}. In India, it is the state game of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. It also encompasses similar sports known by their regional names in Indian states such as chedugudu in Andhra Pradesh, sadugudu in Tamil Nadu and hututu in Maharashtra.

With the advent of Pro-Kabaddi, this outdoor game played in streets has transformed into a sport that is now played indoors. It has also been able to garner glamour and lucrative deals for its players. Kabaddi was never played for a career or livelihood until recent times.