Kabaddi is a dynamic team sport, traditionally emerging from ancient India, and is played between two squads of seven athletes each. In this article, Casino Guru will help you gain a better and more comprehensive understanding of the sport of Kabaddi in India.
General information about Kabaddi
The crux of the game revolves around an offensive player, known as the “raider”, whose goal is to sprint into the rival team’s side of the court, touch as many opponents as possible, and return to his own side, all within a 30-second timeframe without being tackled. Points are awarded for each opponent touched by the raider, while the defending team earns points for successfully stopping the raider. Players are temporarily removed from the game when touched or tackled, but they can re-enter after their team scores a point through a successful tag or tackle.
This sport enjoys immense popularity in the Indian subcontinent and neighboring Asian regions. Despite its historical roots in India, kabaddi gained prominence as a competitive sport in the 20th century. It holds the esteemed status of being the national sport of Bangladesh and is the second most followed and viewed sport in India, trailing only cricket. States like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh have officially recognized it as their state sport.
For avid fans, the kabaddi live score is an essential feature to keep track of ongoing matches. As kabaddi continues to captivate audiences, platforms providing pro kabaddi live scores and updates ensure that fans remain engaged with every thrilling moment of the sport.
Major Competitions in Pro Kabaddi
Kabaddi World Cup
The Kabaddi World Cup, an international competition of outdoor kabaddi, is organized by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF). It features both men’s and women’s national teams. This prestigious tournament has been held in 2004, 2007, and 2016, with India securing victory in all editions. In the 2016 final, India triumphed over Iran with a score of 38-29.
A new chapter began with the establishment of the World Kabaddi Federation, which hosted the 2019 Kabaddi World Cup in Malacca, Malaysia. This edition was historic, being the largest to date, featuring 32 men’s teams and 24 women’s teams.
Asian Games
Kabaddi made its debut as a demonstration event in the 1951 Asian Games, and again in 1982, before becoming an official medal event in 1990. The Indian national teams dominated the Asian Games, winning every men’s and women’s kabaddi competition from 2002 to 2014. However, at the 2018 Asian Games, Iran broke India’s streak, claiming gold in both men’s and women’s kabaddi.
Pro Kabaddi League
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), established in 2014, was modeled after the Indian Premier League of Twenty20 cricket, with a strong emphasis on marketing and the support of local broadcaster Star Sports. The league quickly became a television sensation in India. The 2014 season attracted 435 million viewers, with the final alone drawing 98.6 million viewers. Teams like Bengal Warriors, Bengaluru Bulls, and Patna Pirates compete in this league, which modifies the sport’s rules for television audiences. For instance, players must weigh under 85 kg, and specific scoring bonuses, like “super 10” and “high 5,” add excitement to the matches. The pro kabaddi point table is closely followed by fans eager to see their favorite teams’ standings.
Indo International Premier Kabaddi League
The Indo International Premier Kabaddi League (IIPKL) had its inaugural season on May 13 in Pune, India. The Bangalore Rhinos emerged as the champions of the first season.
Super Kabaddi League
The Super Kabaddi League debuted in Pakistan in May 2018, aiming to rekindle interest in kabaddi within the country.
Asian Kabaddi Championship
The 10th season of the Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in Gorgan, Iran, in 2017. India secured its 10th gold by defeating Pakistan in the finals.
Kabaddi Masters
The first Kabaddi Masters tournament took place in Dubai from June 22 to 30, 2018, marking the sport’s inaugural event in the UAE. India won the tournament by defeating Iran 44-26 in the final.
Junior World Kabaddi Championship
The inaugural Junior World Kabaddi Championship was hosted on Kish Island, Iran, from November 11 to 14, 2019, featuring 13 teams. Iran emerged victorious, defeating Kenya 42-22. India did not participate in this tournament.
Yuva Kabaddi Series
The Yuva Kabaddi Series (YKS) is a franchise-based junior kabaddi tournament in India for players under 23 years old and below 80 kg. The inaugural series was held in Jaipur in June 2022 and was broadcast on the OTT platform FanCode. It is the second-largest kabaddi tournament in India, notable for the number of matches played annually. Fans can track the kabaddi points table to follow their favorite young athletes.
South Asian Games
Kabaddi was introduced to the South Asian Games in 1985. India remains the most successful team in this competition.
European Kabaddi Championship
The first European Kabaddi Championship was held in Scotland in 2019, where Poland defeated Holland in the final. The second edition took place in Cyprus in 2021, with Poland retaining their title. Italy was scheduled to host the third edition in 2022, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually held in 2023, where Poland defeated England to retain their title.
For fans of kabaddi live matches, these competitions offer thrilling moments and intense rivalries, making kabaddi a beloved sport worldwide.
Pro Kabaddi League in Indian Sports
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), known for sponsorship reasons as Vivo Pro Kabaddi, is a premier men’s professional kabaddi competition in India. Launched in 2014, it has swiftly risen to become the most prominent kabaddi league globally, and it holds the distinction of being the second most-watched sports league in India, trailing only the Indian Premier League (IPL). The current champions, Puneri Paltan, exemplify the high level of competition within the league.
The genesis of the PKL was inspired by the success of the kabaddi event at the 2006 Asian Games. Drawing structural ideas from the IPL, the Pro Kabaddi League adopted a franchise-based model. The inaugural season in 2014 featured eight teams, each investing up to $250,000 to participate. Despite initial skepticism about the league’s potential success, given the relatively low profile of kabaddi players compared to cricket stars, the PKL capitalized on the sport’s widespread grassroots presence across India. This grassroots popularity translated into a substantial viewer base, appealing to both rural and urban audiences.
The league’s format and dynamic presentation have contributed to its popularity. Pro Kabaddi live broadcasts on Star Sports have become a staple for fans, offering thrilling matches and keeping viewers updated with the latest kabaddi live scores. The competition’s structure, similar to the IPL, has ensured a consistent following, with the kabaddi points table being closely monitored by fans.
Collection of Pro Kabaddi teams
| Team | City/State | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal Warriors | Kolkata, West Bengal | Netaji Indoor Stadium |
| Bengaluru Bulls | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Kanteerava Indoor Stadium |
| Chennai Thalaivas | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium |
| Dabang Delhi KC | Delhi | Thyagaraj Sports Complex |
| Gujarat Giants | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | EKA Arena |
| Haryana Steelers | Sonipat, Haryana | Motilal Nehru School of Sports |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium |
| Mumbai Mavericks | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium |
| Patna Pirates | Patna, Bihar | Patliputra Sports Complex |
| Pune City Paltan | Pune, Maharashtra | Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex |
| Telangana Titans | Hyderabad/Vizag, Telangana | Gachibowli Indoor Stadium |
| UP Yoddhas | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium |
