Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a team game for two sides of seven on a court split into two halves. The teams take turns to raid: one player crosses into the other half, tries to touch defenders and must get home within 30 seconds while chanting "kabaddi" aloud, the cant; the defenders try to catch the raider. A team scores a point for every opponent it puts out, and its own out players come back as it does so. A men's match is two halves of 20 minutes.
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How long
Two halves of 20 minutes for men, 15 for women, with a five-minute break
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Asian Games (kabaddi)The top international title in kabaddi, and one India has dominated.Every 4 years; held since 1990 (women since 2010) · Holder: Men's: India · Women's: India
- 2Kabaddi World CupThe world title; editions have been run by different bodies.Irregular · Holder: IKF women's, Dhaka
- 3Pro Kabaddi LeagueThe franchise league that made kabaddi a television sport.Yearly · Holder: Dabang Delhi K.C. beat Puneri Paltan 31–28 at…
India
- Kabaddi at the Asian Games: 13 golds, a silver and a bronze: the most of any nation
- Kabaddi World Cup: Winner of all nine finals
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaKabaddi at the Asian Games: 13 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 2026)
- IranKabaddi at the Asian Games: 2 golds, 6 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2026)
- BangladeshKabaddi at the Asian Games: 3 silvers, 4 bronzes (latest 2014)
- PakistanKabaddi at the Asian Games: 2 silvers, 7 bronzes (latest 2022)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | The International Kabaddi Federation rules, as published by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India: Rules and Regulations of All Forms of Kabaddi, version 2.1.0 (2017) |
| International federation | World Kabaddi is a rival world body for the standard game; it ran World Cups in 2019 and 2025 |
| In India | Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI): recognised, on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Where and when it is played
On a court 13 metres by 10 for men and 12 by 8 for women. The big events: the Asian Games every four years (men since 1990, women since 2010), the Kabaddi World Cup at irregular intervals and the Pro Kabaddi League in India every year.