The game of Kabbadi is one of the oldest games of Indian
origin. While some believe that the sport has a history dating to pre-historic times and was probably invented to ward off group attacks, many believe that the game has its beginning some 5, years ago during the Kurukshetra War. The ancient Indian epic !ahabharata describes the battle between the "andavas and the #auravas and how $bimanyu managed to penetrate the #auravas seven tiered defense, but died because he did not know the way out. %egend has it that as an unborn child in his mother&s womb, $bhimanyu learned the knowledge of entering the deadly and virtually impenetrable the seven tiered defense called #hakravyuha. It is said that %ord Krishna tutored $bhimanyu's father $r(una the techni)ue of attacking and escaping from various army formations. *owever, it is said that $bimanyu's mother +ubadhra ,evi decided to retire when %ord Krishna was e-planing the method of escaping from the #hakravyuha. Thus $bhimanyu never got the chance to learn on how to escape the #hakravyuha. .n the /0 th day of the Kurukshetra War, the courageous dashing $bhimanyu, was called upon to break through the #hakravyuha formed by the #auravas. The si-teen year old gallantly broke through the formation but after a fierce battle was killed by his enemies. It is believed that the sport of kabaddi was created in remembrance of $bhimanyu the Warrior. Kabaddi 1sometimes written Kabbadi or Kabadi2is a team sport that sees two teams occupy opposite halves of a field and take turns sending a 3raider3 into the other half, in order to win points by tagging or wrestling members of the opposing team4 the raider then tries to return to his own half, holding his breath during the whole raid.
It re)uires both skill and power and combines the characteristics of wrestling and rugby. 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. *istory reveals that kabaddi was played by princes of the past to display their strength. 5uddhist literature also mentions of 6autama 5uddha playing kabaddi with his peers. The game, known as *u-Tu-Tu in Western India, *a-,o-,o in 7astern India and 5angladesh, #hedugudu in +outhern India and Kaunbada in 8orthern India, has changed through the ages. !odern Kabaddi is a synthesis of the game played in various forms under different names. The e-citement and thrill provided by the game has made it very popular and is rightly called the 6ame of the !asses. !illions of people from as many as 95 countries of the world play this game in its various forms. The game in most popular and played in India, 8epal, "akistan, 5angladesh, :apan, +ri %anka, Thailand, !alaysia, Iran, Korea, $rgentina, #anada, ;.K, Italy, #hina, Trinidad and Tobago, $ustralia and many more countries. Kabaddi is played in three styles < 8ational +tyle Kabaddi, 5each Kabaddi and #ircle Kabaddi. The 8ational +tyle Kabaddi was introduced as a medal sport at the 5ei(ing $siad in /==. The #ircle +tyle Kabaddi was a demonstration sport at the /=09 5erlin .lympics. The demonstration was made possible by the *anuman >yayam "rasarak !andal, $maravati, !aharashtra. 5each Kabaddi was included at the 5ali $sian Indoor 6ames in ?@. Kabaddi's inclusion at the .lympics would depend on the growth of the game in the coming years. The International .lympic #ommittee 1I.#2 has also assured the World Kabaddi Aederation that the recognition of the sport would be possible upon having a minimum of 5 affiliated 8ational Aederations. The three styles of kabaddi are also played in three different formats. In the $mar format of Kabaddi, there is no out or revival rule. When any player is touched, goes out of bounds or is caught, he is not sent out of the court but point is awarded to the rival team. In the +ur(aveeni format, the revival and our rule is in play. When any player is touched or goes out of bounds, or is caught, the player concerned is sent out of court. "oints are awarded to the rival team in addition to having their out players being revived. In the 6aminee format, a player touched, caught or out of bounds, has to remain out until all his team members are out. The team that is successful in putting out all the players of the opponent&s side secures a point. $fter all the players are put out, the team is revived and the game continues. Kabaddi is gaining popularity in many parts of the world, because apart from being a competitive sport, it is also a simple and ine-pensive game. While the game strived on being played outdoors, international competitions are now played on approved 7>$ Aoam !ats. "laying on mat and on traditional clay courts have their own benefits. While playing on clay re)uired skills like sliding, playing on mat has made it more dramatic. ,espite the differences, kabaddi calls for tremendous fitness of body and mind and the ability to concentrate as well as anticipate the opponent&s moves. The 6ame demands agility, muscular co-ordination, breath holding capacity, speed, strength, stamina, catching, kicking, as well as )uick responses and a great deal of presence of mind.