Become A Kabaddi Player: Here Are 8 Academies For Training

After cricket, Kabaddi is the most popular sport in India and believed to have originated in South India. With the introduction of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) in 2014, kabaddi has sharply risen in popularity. It is popular also in surrounding Asian countries but the Indian dominate the sport. India has won all the Kabaddi World Cups held till date.

Haryana is the hub of kabaddi academies. Many ex-army servicemen and champions of kabaddi, renowned for winning medals in the Asian Games and other tournaments, have started their own kabaddi academies. The admission fee in any of the kabaddi academy would begin from Rs 500. Some academies are offering free kabaddi coaching while the hostel costs would be around Rs 4,000 to Rs 7,000 per month. Almost all the academies have multiple facilities like gym, running tracks and mud ground. Most have no websites but can be contacted through information on their Facebook pages.

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Haryana

Chaudhari Ram Swarup Kabaddi Academy | Chakri Dadri

This academy was started and looked after by a family that was entirely committed to the sport and provides free training. Many kabaddi enthusiasts who had trained in this academy have participated in state and national level tournaments. Some of the players produced by this academy in the past three years are Amit Sheoran, Ashish Kumar, Surendar Gill, Sumeet Kumar and Nitesh Kumar. The facilities provided include an open gym, four outdoor mud grounds, a running track, hostel, and hospital services.

Hostel Fee: Rs 4,000 per month

Timings:

• Morning: 5:15 am to 7 am

• Evening: 5 pm to 7:15 pm

Neer Gulia Kabaddi Academy | Sonipat

It was founded by Neer Gulia, former international player, Asian Games Gold Medallist and currently, assistant coach of Gujarat Fortune Giants, one of the best teams in PKL. It is well-equipped with a hostel, gym, running track, medical assistance and more. Parvesh Bhainswal and Sunil Kumar who are a part of Gujarat’s squad are students of this academy.

Admission Fee: Rs 5,000

Hostel Fee: Rs 4,000 per month

Coaching Fee: Rs 1,000 per month

Timings:

• Morning: 5:30 am to 7 am

• Evening: 5 pm to 7:30 pm

Kathura Kabaddi Academy | Sonipat

This is one of the top kabaddi clubs in Haryana. Many skilled players ruling in the PKL are products of this academy. Sandeep Narwal, best all-rounder in PKL, is one. The academy provides various facilities like a gym, running track, physiotherapy, and medical assistance. Puneri Paltan and PO Surjeet Singh who won gold medals in the 2014 Asian Games had also trained in this academy.

Admission Fee: Rs 2,000

Hostel Fee: Rs 6,000 per month

Training Fee: Rs 500 per month

Narwal Kabaddi and Sports Academy | Rohtak

Narwal Sports Academy, located in Rohtak in Haryana is one of India’s top kabaddi coaching centres. It is run by a team of professional coaches under the guidance and leadership of Sunny Narwal who is among the best kabaddi coaches in India. This academy helps with precise practice and experienced mentoring. Apart from hostel facilities, it also has facilities like national and international-level grounds for practice, gym and more. It organises monthly and yearly kabaddi tournaments of national level. Many national kabaddi players, including Pradeep Narwal, Kuldeep Narwal, Rajesh Narwal and Ankit Beniwal, are associated with this academy. The students of this academy, after completing the coaching, get to compete in inter-city sports meets and competitions. Many of its players also play in the Pro Kabaddi League, India’s men's professional kabaddi league.

Admission Fee: Rs 5,000

Hostel Fee: Rs 5,000 per month

Coaching Fee: Rs 2,000 per month

Timings:

• Morning: 5 am to 8 am

• Evening: 3 pm to 7 pm

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Khokar Kabaddi Academy | Sonipat

Khokar Kabaddi Academy was founded in December 2019 by Rambir Singh Khokhar, the Dronacharya awardee and one of the most experienced kabaddi coaches in the country. He has been coaching since 1988. This academy offers kabaddi coaching to players of all ages and has facilities like hostels, gym, swimming pool, mat grounds in indoor halls, running track and clay grounds.

Admission Fee: Rs 5,000

Hostel Fee: Rs 7,000 per month

Coaching Fee: Rs 3,000 per month

Timings:

• Morning: 6 am to 8:30 am

• Evening: 3 pm to 6 pm

Uttar Pradesh

Sharda Jan Kalyan Kabaddi Gurukul | Bijnor

Sharda Jan Kalyan Kabaddi Gurukul is known for its unique training methods. Players are trained under the guidance and mentorship of Bijender Singh, head coach. This academy has facilities like an akhada (arena) for meditation, gym, swimming pool, running track, solid surface for recovery therapy and hostels.

Hostel Fee: Rs 3,500 per month

Coaching Fee: Rs 1,000 per month

Timings:

• Morning: 5:30 am to 8 am

• Evening: 3 pm to 6 pm

Kerala

Jagadheesh Kumble Academy | Kasaragod

Jagadheesh Kumble is a professional kabaddi coach who is well known for being the only recipient of a gold medal in kabaddi from Kerala. He has trained many teams since the inception of the PKL and currently coaches the Telugu Titans. He also conducts workshops for senior players. Kabaddi stars like Sagar B Krishna and Rajnish were coached under Jagadheesh Kumble’s guidance. Facilities like indoor hall with mat, lodging, and medical services are provided in the academy.

Admission Fee: Rs 1,000

Hostel Fee: 5,000 per month

Training Fee: 1,000 per month

Timings:

• Morning: 5:30 am to 8 am

• Evening: 4 pm to 7 pm

Maharashtra

Shivneri Kabaddi Krida Sankul | Pune

This academy was started by Rajendra Rajale and Satish Wadyar who had taken voluntary retirement from Indian Armed Forces due to their passion for kabaddi, and it finally resulted in their establishing this academy. They also post kabaddi tutorial classes on Kabaddi Adda Youtube channel with the title “Seekh Panga”. The academy also provides customized coaching for the participants. There is a gym, indoor hall with mat, three outdoor mud grounds, running track, swimming pool, yoga hall, recreational games facility hall, hostel, on spot medical services and more.

Hostel Fee: Rs 6,000 per month

Coaching Fee: Rs 1,000 per month

Timings:

• Morning: 6 am to 8:30 am

• Evening: 6 pm to 8:30 pm