TP MATHIAZHAGAN
Kabaddi is an indigenous sports played very popular in all over India. The rules of the game are very simple to understand by common man. The origin of the game dates to pre-historic times in different forms
The first known frame work of the Kabaddi as an indigenous sports of India was prepared in Maharastra in the year 1921. The modern Kabaddi was played all over India and some parts of South Asia from the year 1930 onwards. Later, the All India Kabaddi Federation was formed in the year 1950 for the promotion of the game and the senior national championship was conducted during the year 1952.
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The new body Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India came into existence in the year 1972 and affiliated to Indian Olympic Association. With a view to popularize the game in India and neighbouring countries of Asia, the new body took a new dimension and national level competitions were started in all categories.
Kabaddi was included as a demonstration game in IX Asian Games, New Delhi in the year 1982. The game was included in the SAF Games from the year 1984 at Bangladesh. Kabaddi was included in the XI Asian Games held at Beijing China 1990 and India won the gold medal and it is continuing till the year 2014. Unfortunately, we lost during the year 2018 Asian Games.
- All India Kabaddi Federation was formed in the year 1950 for the promotion of the game and the senior national championship was conducted during the year 1952.
- Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India came into existence in the year 1972 and affiliated to Indian Olympic Association
The first world cup Kabaddi was organized in the year 2004 and continues till date. Women Kabaddi was included for the first time in the SAF games, 2006 held at Sri Lanka. Later, Women Kabaddi was included in the Asian Games. Now, the Kabaddi is being played worldwide like All Asian countries, Europe, West Indies and England extra.
To popularize the game among the youngsters and systematic training, the game was included in Sports Authority of India scheme during the year 1999 at STC Mumbai and it was included in SAI Training Centres & National Centre of Excellence. Earlier days, the game was played in the mud ground in outdoor. To bring this game more popular, AKFI and International Kabaddi Federation introduced synthetic Kabaddi surface (Kabaddi mat) with game shoes and it is played in the Indoor as well as Outdoor.
The Kabaddi players are getting more job opportunities when they reaches elite level in the various government / public sector like Services, Railways, P & T, Income Tax, Customs, Police, Banks, Transport, Oil corporations, extra.
Now the game of Kabaddi comes into professional platform. AKFI along with Star Sports conducting Kabaddi premier league every year and it became more popular in the country, getting more media exposure. The premier Kabaddi league gives opportunity to the players to become rich and more professional.
There has been a gradual but significant change in the trend of the game, for the past 50 years. The introduction of the mat and shoes, made a lot of changes in the technique /tactical / strategy/ team training and changes in the rules has made the sport more popular and interesting. This professional league motivate youngsters to take maximum participation in the game of Kabaddi.
(The author of this article is TP Mathiazhagan, Chief Coach-Kabaddi, Sports Authority of India, Training Centre, Chennai.)
