Kabaddi is a contact team sport played between two teams of seven players, originating in India. The objective of the game is for a single player on offence, referred to as a "raider", to run into the opposing team's half of the court, touch out as many of their players as possible, and return to their own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders in 30 seconds. Points are scored for each player tagged by the raider, while the opposing team earns a point for stopping the raider. Players are taken out of the game if they are touched or tackled, but return to the game after each point scored by their team from a tag or tackle.
The India men's national kabaddi team represents India in international men's kabaddi competitions. The team is by far the most successful national kabaddi side of any country, winning gold medals at the Asian Games in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022, as well as winning all three Kabaddi World Cup events to date. Pawan Sehrawat is the current captain of the team since 2022.
Kabaddi, is a contact sport, native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the most popular sports in India, played mainly among people in villages. India has taken part in four Asian Games in kabaddi, and won gold in all of them. Four forms of kabaddi played in India are Amar, Suranjeevi, huttuttoo, and Gaminee. Amar is generally played in Punjab, Haryana, the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world, mostly by Punjabi sportsmen. Suranjeevi is the most played form of kabaddi in India and the world. This is the form used in international matches generally and played in Asian Games. Huttuttoo was played by men in Maharashtra. In Gaminee style, seven players play on each side and a player put out has to remain out until all his team members are out. The team that is successful in outing all the players of the opponent's side secures a point. The game continues until five or seven such points are secured and has no fixed time duration.
The India women's national kabaddi team represents India in international women's kabaddi competitions.
Kabaddi at the 2014 Asian Games was held in Songdo Global University Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea from 28 September to 3 October 2014. Both of India's men's and women's teams faced and defeated Iran's respective teams in the finals, earning India's teams the Gold while Iran's teams won the Silver. Meanwhile the men's team for both South Korea and Pakistan won the Bronze, as well as the women's teams of Bangladesh and Thailand, after their respective defeats in semifinals.
Anup Kumar is an Indian former professional Kabaddi player and Kabaddi Coach of PKL Team Puneri Paltan. He was a member of the India national kabaddi team that won Asian gold medals in 2010 and 2014, one South Asian gold medal in 2016 and the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He was the captain of the Indian National Kabaddi Team. Known for his bonus skills in the game, he is widely regarded as one of the best captain in the history of game and team. Also known as "Captain Cool" and "Bonus ka Badshah" for his captaincy skills, he spent five years with U Mumba and later moved to Jaipur Pink Panthers. In 2012, the Government of India conferred the Arjuna Award on him for his achievements in the sport. He is employed as a Deputy Commissioner of Police in his native State of Haryana. On 19 December 2018, he announced his retirement from kabbadi.
Ajay Thakur is an Indian professional Kabaddi player and the former captain of the Indian National Kabaddi Team.He is widely regarded as one of the Greatest Players Of All Time.He was part of the national teams which won 2016 Kabaddi World Cup and gold medal at 2014 Asian Games. He was awarded the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award in 2019.
Jeeva Kumar Sivachandraswaran is representative for India in the sport of Kabaddi. He was a member of the Kabaddi team that won a gold medal in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Pawan Kumar Sehrawat is an Indian kabaddi player who plays for Telugu Titans in the Pro Kabaddi League and represents Reserve Bank of India. Widely regarded as one of the greatest raiders in the history of sport, known by the nickname "Hi flyer" for his over cover jumping skills. Pawan became the most expensive player in the history of the Pro kabbadi league when Tamil Thalaivas picked him for ₹ 2.26 crores for the ninth season. He was bought by the Telugu Titans for Rs 2.60 crore for the tenth season and with this, he became the most expensive player in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League again.
Nitesh Kumar is an Indian kabaddi player who currently plays for UP Yoddha in Pro Kabaddi League. Kumar was picked up by Yoddha in the season 5 auction. In season 6, he became the first player in the league history to score 100 tackle points in a single campaign. He is part of the Indian team that won gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games. India beat Iran 33-29 in a controversial final.
Sachin Tanwar is an Indian kabaddi player who currently plays for the Patna Pirates in the Pro Kabaddi League and the Indian national team. He was among the top 10 raid point scorers in the league in his first two seasons. He made his debut for the Indian kabaddi team in 2017. He was part of the Indian team that won the gold at the 2022 Asian Games kabaddi competitions. India beat Iran 33-29 in a controversial final.
Hadi Tajik is an Iranian professional kabaddi player represents Iran in international matches and also currently plays for Puneri Paltan in the Indian Pro Kabaddi League.
Naveen Kumar Goyat is an Indian professional kabaddi player who plays for the Indian national kabaddi team and Dabang Delhi KC in the Pro Kabaddi League. Known by his nickname "Naveen Express" for his speedy raids and consistency, he is regarded as one of the greatest raiders in the league and in the sport. He was part of the Indian Kabaddi team that won the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games were India defeated Iran 33-29 in a controversial final.He also lead his team to win the final in Pro Kabaddi League season 8 and was the leading point scorer as raider for the team.
Parvesh Bhainswal is an Indian professional Kabaddi player who plays as a defender. He is selected for the Indian team for the 2022 Asian Games at Hangzhou, China. He is part of the Indian team that won the gold medal in the 2022 Asian Games. India defeated Iran 33-29 in a controversial final after the final was delayed by over 45 minutes.
Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian professional Kabaddi player who plays in the Pro Kabaddi League. He is a defender who plays in the left corner. He is selected for the Indian team to represent at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. He is part of the Indian team that won the gold medal in the 2022 Asian Games. India defeated Iran 33-29 in a controversial final.
Arjun Deshwal is an Indian professional Kabaddi player who plays as a raider in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) for Jaipur Pink Panthers. He is known as a "Raid Machine" in the league for his aggressive raiding technique. He was part of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Gangzhou, China.
Aslam Inamdar is an Indian professional Kabaddi player who plays in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). He began his career playing in the sub-junior nationals in Maharashtra, then joined Puneri Paltan as a raider for the 2022 PKL season. In 2023, he competed for India at the 2022 Asian Games; the team won gold, controversially defeating Iran 33–29 in the finals. Inamdar continues to play for Jai Bajrang, a club that helped him to have stints with Union Bank and Air India.
Sunil Kumar is an Indian kabaddi player who plays in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) as a defender. After winning the Junior Nationals in 2015 and 2016, he was picked up by Patna Pirates for the PKL season 4. He later transferred to Jaipur Pink Panthers. In 2023, Kumar competed for India at the 2022 Asian Games; where the Indian team won gold, controversially defeating Iran 33–29 in the finals.
Nitin Rawal is an Indian kabaddi player from Haryana who plays in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) as an all rounder. In 2023, he was part of the Indian team at the 2022 Asian Games; that won gold, controversially defeating Iran 33–29 in the finals.
Akash Santosh Shinde is an Indian professional Kabaddi player who plays in the Pro Kabaddi League. He plays as a left raider for Puneri Paltan in PKL. He is selected for the Indian team for the 2022 Asian Games.
