By Kabaddi is a sport with no room for error; you either win or lose. It is the most thrilling traditional game across India and beyond. If you love watching Kabaddi, you might be wondering where its journey began. Well, you’ll be surprised to know it all began thousands of years ago. Kabaddi history is rich with stories and the power of an aggressive sport that has reached international stages today.
Let’s talk about it briefly.
Ancient Story of Kabaddi
Kabaddi is believed to be around 4000 years old, linked to an incident in the ancient Indian Mahabharata in which Abhimanyu (son of Arjuna) entered the chakravyuha against the Kaurava army inside the enemy camp. Similarly, a player enters the other team’s side and keeps chanting kabaddi, kabaddi. However, Abhimanyu managed to hold the enemy’s seven-tiered defence, but he died as he did not know a way out. It explains very well how kabaddi history is connected to an oral tradition rather than documented history.
Basically, Kabaddi is an outdoor team game played on soft ground which combines the characteristics of both wrestling and rugby. Originally, it was believed to have been developed as a defensive response by an individual against group and individual attack. Over time, kabaddi became a popular game in every household in India and beyond.
Regional Names
Kabaddi is played beyond India. Therefore, different countries named it differently. Like Hadudu is its name in Bangladesh and Gudu in Sri Lanka. Similarly, it’s called Chub in Indonesia, and kabaddi is a traditional rural sport in Pakistan.
Standardisation of Rules
Kabaddi rules were standardised after the formation of the Kabaddi Federation of India in 1950. KFI compiled a standard set of rules for kabaddi for modern times. However, the modification didn’t stop here. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) was founded in 1973, and it again modified the kabaddi rules.
Introduction to Olympics & Asian Games
Bangladesh adopted kabaddi as its national sport in 1972, following the formation of the Bangladesh Amateur Kabaddi Federation in 1973. Later, at the conference of representatives from various countries, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal, in the Indian town of Villai, the Amateur Kabaddi Federation was formed in 1978.
From there, Kabaddi’s journey in the Asian championship began, soon taking the sport to the Asian Games. The first Asian Kabaddi Championship was successfully hosted in 1980, and India emerged as the winner and Bangladesh as the runner-up.
At the Summer Olympics in Berlin in 1936, kabaddi was formally played as a demonstration sport. This was the first time kabaddi was included in the Asian Games held in Beijing in 1990. During the Asian Games, six countries participated, including India, Pakistan, China, Japan, and Nepal. The win was followed by three more wins at Hiroshima in 1994, Bangkok in 1998, and Busan in 2002.
Kabaddi World Cup
A sports organisation called World Kabaddi was founded in 2018 and held its first Kabaddi World Cup in 2019 in Malacca, Malaysia, followed by the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup in March 2025 in the West Midlands, England.
Rise of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), launched in 2014 in India, made kabaddi more popular and modern. Under PKL, teams represent various Indian cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. Matches began to be broadcast on television, garnering a huge audience. Players wear team jerseys, fans support their favourite teams, and matches feature full scoreboard commentary.
Due to PKL, kabaddi became a dream sport for many youngsters and gave its professional players a chance to shine and earn money just like cricket, or at least enough to make a decent living. PKL fans’ love for pro defenders and raiders is truly extraordinary and contagious.
Kabaddi Today & Global Spread
Kabaddi started in India, but these days it’s played well beyond that. Kenya, South Korea, Canada, England they’ve all put together teams strong enough to hold their own on the big stage.
There’s a real international circuit now too. The Kabaddi World Cup, the Asian Games, other events where the top squads from each country show up and go head to head.
Young players are picking it up as well, not just the usual sports crowd. Part of the appeal is how little you need to start some open ground and the willingness to get stuck in. Kids end up learning discipline and how to lead a team without really trying, just from playing.
