Punjabi kabaddi


Punjabi kabaddi, also called circle style kabaddi, is a contact sport that originated in the Punjab region, in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. There are a number of traditional Punjabi kabaddi styles traditionally played in the Punjab region. Like standard kabaddi, circle style kabaddi is played at state and international levels, through various governing bodies such as Kabaddi World Cup.

Name

The term kabaddi may be derived from the Punjabi word "kauddi" which is chanted to play kabaddi or, it is derived from "katta" and "vaddi" which together has become kabaddi.

Traditional Punjabi kabaddi styles

Lambi kauddi

In lambi kauddi there are 15 players with a circular pitch of 15–20 feet. There is no outer limit. The players can run as far they can. There is no referee. The raider will say "kauddi, kauddi" throughout the attack.

Saunchi kauddi

Saunchi kauddi can best be described as being similar to boxing. It is popular in the Malwa area of Punjab. It is unlimited players with a circular playing pitch. A bamboo with red cloth is dug into the ground which is paraded by the winner.
In sauchi kabaddi, the raider will hit the defender but only on the chest. The defender will then hold the raiders wrist. A foul is declared if any other part of the body is grabbed. If the defender holds the raiders wrist and restricts his movement, he will be declared the winner. If the raider loses the grip of the defender, then the raider will be the winner.

Goongi kabaddi

A popular style is Goongi kabaddi where a raider player does not speak and say the word kabaddi but just touches the opponent's team player and the whom he touches only that player will try to stop the player. The struggle will continue till he reaches the starting line or acknowledge the defeat and loses a point, or if he safely reaches the starting line, he will get the point.

Other traditional styles

History and development

Kabaddi is the regional sport of the Punjab region and was referred to as Punjabi kabaddi in India and Pakistan. However, with the formation of the states of Haryana and Punjab in India, the same game was referred to as Punjab kabaddi and Haryana kabaddi. This caused confusion and therefore, in 1978, the Amateur Circle Kabaddi Federation of India was formed and the syle of kabaddi played in the Punjab region was named circle kabaddi.
Punjab circle kabaddi, also known as "diarey wali kabaddi" incorporates the kabaddi styles of the Punjab region.

Rules

In the Punjab region, kabaddi is played on a circular pitch of a diameter of 22 meters and an inner circle with a line through the middle of the pitch: the pitch is called "kaudi da bharha". There are two teams of 8 players; one on one raid; and no player leaves the field. If 2 stoppers attack a player, a foul is declared. Punjab style kabaddi does not require the raider saying "kabaddi, kabaddi" throughout the raid. The game lasts for 40 minutes with a change in sides after 20 minutes.
In the Punjab Circle Style form of Kabaddi, whenever any player is touched, he does not go out of the court, but stays inside, and one point is awarded to the team that touched him. This game is also played on a time basis, i.e. the time is 30 sec.

Notable competitions

Kabaddi World Cup

The circle style Kabaddi World Cup, is an international kabaddi competition administrated by the government of Punjab contested by men's and women's national teams. The competition has been contested every year since the inaugural tournament in 2010, except for 2015 due to the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib desecration controversy. The women's tournament was introduced in 2012. The current Champion 2020 of Punjabi Kabaddi is Pakistan who won the final against India in February.

Super Kabaddi League

Super Kabaddi League is a professional-level kabaddi league in Pakistan. Its inaugural season was played from 1 to 10 May 2018 in Lahore. This league follows a city-based franchise model. More than a 100 Kabaddi players from Pakistan and abroad were presented in the players' draft, which took place on 23 April 2018, in Lahore. International players from Sri Lanka, Iran, Bangladesh, and Malaysia participated in the inaugural edition.

Women's Kabaddi World Cup

The first Women's Kabaddi World Cup was held in Patna, India in 2012. India won the championship, defeating Iran in the finals. India retained the title in 2013, defeating debutants New Zealand in the finals.

Asian Kabaddi Cup

The Asia Kabaddi Cup has been held twice in consecutive years. The inaugural tournament was held in 2011 in Iran. In 2012, the Asia Kabaddi Cup was held in Lahore, Pakistan, from 1 to 5 November. In the 2012 ASIA Kabaddi Cup, Pakistan won against India with a technical win after the Indian team forfeited the match following a dispute.

UK Kabaddi Cup

Kabaddi received major recognition in the United Kingdom during the 2013 UK Kabaddi Cup. It featured the national kabaddi teams from India, England, Pakistan, the United States, Canada, and a local club team sponsored by SGPC. The UK Kabaddi Cup hosts the Punjab circle style of kabaddi.

World Kabaddi League

was formed in 2014. The league includes eight teams from four countries – Canada, England, Pakistan, and the United States – and plays the Punjabi circle style of kabaddi. Some of the teams are owned or part owned by actors – Akshay Kumar, Rajat Bedi, Sonakshi Sinha and Yo Yo Honey Singh. The inaugural league season was played from August 2014 to December 2014. United Singhs won the finals defeating Khalsa Warriors in the first season.

Local tournaments

There are over 1,000 kabaddi tournaments held in Punjab, some of which include the following