Kabaddi, the game of strength, skills, and resilience, has long been a traditional sport in India. However, recently, it has achieved global recognition.
A Peek into Kabaddi’s History
Kabaddi holds a special place in the Indian sports culture. The game originated around 4000 years ago and is now renowned worldwide. Kabaddi has its roots in Indian culture, and its reference is there in ancient Hindu mythology. It is said that in the Indian epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna adored the Kabaddi game. The Pandava warrior Arjun is said to have mastered the skills of Kabaddi from Lord Krishna. People believe that Kabaddi in ancient Hindu culture was a sport to learn defense responses in events of attacks.
Kabaddi is now played across many states in India and has also become quite popular since the Kabaddi League started. Popular belief is that, initially, in Tamil Nadu, people played Kabaddi, which was then called Hu-tu-tu or Chedugudu. You would also be familiar with the terms Hadudu or Kitkit—these games are similar to the game of Kabaddi. Although the game has been played for centuries, it officially got its recognition in 1918 as the national sport of India. After this announcement, people started playing Kabaddi in organized tournaments, bringing international recognition.
International Recognition in Berlin
Kabaddi got its first big break in the Berlin Olympics. Though it was not a part of the Olympics, the game was presented as an exhibition just before the Berlin Games. It was a turning point for Kabaddi because it set the stage for its future success.
The Olympic organizers invited a 35-member team from a physical education institute in Amravati City, Maharashtra, to showcase different indigenous games of the country, including Hu-tu-tu, a variation of Kabaddi. It perfectly presented Kabaddi on a global platform.
Soon, Kabaddi became popular in Asian countries, followed by African and European nations. In 1951, India got the chance to showcase the game of Kabaddi in the first Asian Games. Since 1990, Kabaddi has been played as a regular medal sport in the Asian Games. It was a massive achievement for Kabaddi because this was the first time it got included in an international sporting event.
Both the men’s and women’s teams of the country clinched top honors for all games held between 1990 and 2014.
Kabaddi gaining a place in the continental games was a massive win because it gained the attention of a global audience. Eventually, Iran, South Korea, and other nations showed interest in the game and became strong contenders.
Introduction of Kabaddi Federations
Kabaddi Federations play a significant role in promoting the game internationally. The All India Kabaddi Federation, established in 1950, compiled a set of standardized rules for the game. In 1978, the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India was formed, giving a new shape to the rules while enhancing the game’s structure.
A primary turning point was in 2004 when the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) was formed. IKF helped bring Kabaddi into the limelight and promoted the sport to non-Asian countries. Thus, this effort was significant for Kabaddi’s international recognition.
Kabaddi World Cup
A primary step in promoting Kabaddi to other countries began in 2004 when the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) launched the Kabaddi World Cup. The World Cup invited countries, including Canada, England, Germany, Japan, Kenya, the United States, and the Asian nations. Both the men’s and women’s teams played in the standard round-robin format.
Indian Kabaddi League
The Indian Kabaddi League is the driving force in making Kabaddi a household name. It was the first time that people watched Kabaddi on television. The glamour, celebrity endorsements, and live television coverage attracted the younger audience’s attention.
Before the Kabaddi League, Kabaddi was mainly played in rural areas or as a local sport. The perception of Kabaddi changed after it grabbed media attention following the league. Teams from various Indian states participated in the league, which helped increase the fanbase from varied parts of the country.
The Kabaddi League has been a game-changer for Kabaddi. Many countries, including Kenya, Poland, and the US, showed interest in playing the sport.
Kabaddi in Olympics 2036
Kabaddi has been a part of our lives since we were kids. The sport is immensely popular in India, and now, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) decided to introduce Kabaddi in the prestigious Olympic Games.
IOA has expressed its ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Los Angeles and Brisbane will host the 2028 and 2032 Olympic games respectively. As a part of their bid, IOA has expressed interest in including six sports in the Olympics. These sports include Kabaddi, chess, cricket, squash, kho kho, and yoga.
Among these sports, T20 cricket and Kabaddi are of utmost importance because these two sports are widely popular and loved in India.
The Olympic charter states specific criteria. Once you fulfill them, you include a sport in the Olympic games. Men must play this game against at least 75 countries covering the four continents. However, women must play this game against 40 countries minimum, covering three continents.
Therefore, Kabaddi’s inclusion in the Olympic games can become a reality any day. The women’s team is also a strong contender, as they have showcased their expertise on international platforms.
Although there are still challenges that the sport must overcome, for example, Kabaddi is not played as much as any other sport at the Olympics. Moreover, you encounter multiple formats and rules in Kabaddi. However, experts can use this to their advantage and create a globally accepted format.
However, in the past few years, Kabaddi has become a well-known sport because of its inclusion in major sports events like the Asian Games.
The International Kabaddi Federation has been making efforts to give the sport global recognition. IKF has been working closely with the federations in Europe, Africa, and America to increase Kabaddi awareness and participation in international sports events.
Conclusion
Kabaddi has traveled from Indian villages to international platforms. The journey has been quite remarkable. Though the sport is yet to be a part of the Olympics, the game’s influence in Indian and international sports culture is appreciable. As the sport gains popularity with global participation and leagues, its dream of Olympic inclusion might soon become a reality.
Thanks to the Indian Kabaddi League, which brought the sport into the mainstream because the game got attention from people not just in India but the world, including their governments, corporations, players, and, of course, the global audience, who have transformed the way Kabaddi is perceived around the world. The journey has been commendable, from being an ancient sport to becoming an international sport.
Also Read: Understand Basics of Kabaddi
