Kabaddi
Kabaddi is one of the popular game among the peoples of Asia,
especially in the villigers of India,Pakistan ,Bangladesh ,Sri Lanka ,Nepal and Japan.Some
people think that it is an Indian game but the reality is that no one really knows about
the origin of this game. Some historian believe that it is about 4,000 year old game.
This game involve skills and powers of two teams and combines the
characteristics of wrestling and rugby. It was originally meant to develop self defence,
in addition to responses to attack, and reflexes of counter attack by individuals, and by
groups or teams. It is a rather simple and inexpensive game, and neither requires a
massive playing area, nor any expensive equipment. This explains the popularity of the
game in rural areas. Kabaddi is played all over Asia with minor variations.
A Kabaddi match in progress
Kabaddi is also known by various names viz. Chedugudu or
Hu-Tu-Tu in southern parts of India, Hadudu (Men) and Chu - Kit-Kit (women) in eastern
India, and Kabaddi in northern India.
The Game
In Kabaddi, two teams compete with each other for higher scores,
by touching or capturing the players of the opponent team. Each team consists of 12
players, of which seven are on court at a time, and five in reserve. The two teams fight
for higher scores, alternating defence and offense. The court is as large as that for a
dodge ball game. The game consists of two 20 minute halves, with a break of five minutes
for change of sides.
The kabaddi playing area is 12.50m x 10m, divided by a line into
two halves. The side winning the toss sends a 'raider', who enters the opponents' court
chanting, 'kabaddi-kabaddi'. The raider's aim is to touch any or all players on the
opposing side, and return to his court in one breath. The person, whom the raider touches,
will then be out. The aim of the opposing team, will be to hold the raider, and stop him
from returning to his own court, until he takes another breath. If the raider cannot
return to his court in the same breath while chanting 'kabaddi', he will be declared out.
Each team alternates in sending a player into the opponents' court. If a player goes out
of the boundary line during the course of the play, or if any part of his body touches the
ground outside the boundary, he will be out, except during a struggle.
Lona
The team scores a lona ( a bonus of two points), if the
entire opposition is declared out. The game then continues by putting all the players on
both sides. Matches are staged on the basis of age-groups, and weight. Seven officials
supervise a match - one referee, two umpires, two linesmen, a time keeper and a scorer.
Types of Kabaddi
In India, Kabaddi is recognised in three forms:
The 'Surjeevani' form of Kabaddi is played under the Kabaddi Federation of India, and
is governed by its rules and regulations. In the 'Surjeevani' form of Kabaddi, one player
is revived against one player of the opposite team who is out. i.e. one out, one in. The
duration of the game, the number of players, the dimensions of the court, etc. have been
fixed by the Kabaddi Federation of India.
In the 'Gaminee' type of Kabaddi, there is no revival. When all
the players of team are out, the game ends. So there is no time limit in this category.
In the 'Amar' form of Kabaddi, whenever any player is touched
(out), he does not go out of the court, but stays inside, and one point is awarded to the
team that touched him. In this way, one point for each touch of the opposite team, i.e. to
the team who touches the anti player. This game is also played on a time basis, i .e the
time is fixed.
In the northern part of the country, i.e. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar
Pradesh and Delhi, this game is played in a circle. This is known as 'Circle Kabaddi' or
Amar Kabaddi. If it is played without a court, as in some places, it's called 'Goongi
Kabaddi'. The Goongi Kabaddi is nothing but wrestling between two players.
The first world Kabaddi championship in the history of the game,
was organised in Hamilton when approximately 14,000 people packed Copps Coliseum, to watch
stars from India, Pakistan, Canada, England, and the United States compete.
The Kabaddi Federation of India (KFI) was founded in 1950, and it
compiled a standard set of rules. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) was
founded in 1973. The AKFI has given new shape to the rules, and it has also the rights of
modification in the rules. The Asian Kabaddi Federation was founded under the chairmanship
of Mr. Sharad Pawar (Maharashtra).
Some of the Arjuna Award winners are Sh. Sadanand Mahadeo Shetty,
Sh. Sadanand Mahadeo Shetty, Sh. Shakuntla Panghar Kholavakar, Sh. Shantaram Jaatu, Kumari
Monika Nath, Kumari Maya Kashi Nath, Rama Sarkar etc. Kabaddi was one of the demonstration
games at Asiad '82. |