Photography
Chris McGrath
Published
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1 Min Read
Kabaddi is the national sport of Bangladesh. Originating from Ancient India it is hugely popular around the surrounding Asian countries.
The game consists of seven players on each side. The offensive player on the team, known as the raider, must run into the half of their opponents, touching as many of the opposition's defensive players as possible without getting tackled. While raiding, the raider must loudly chant kabaddi, confirming to referees that their raid is done on a single breath without inhaling.
Points are gained by the amount of touches for the offensive team, while the amount of tackles equals points for the defensive team.
Kabaddi has two major disciplines: circles style and standard style. The latter version - played on a rectangle court - is the version more familiar to the major leagues and the Asian Games.
In 2019 the Kabaddi World Cup was the biggest in the sport’s history, featuring 34 men’s teams and 24 women’s teams.
Kabbadi also has a presence in the west; it is used by the British army for fitness, and there are also European championships.
It is a unique sport with a huge presence.
