How many Players are there in Kabaddi?

Kabaddi is a game played between two teams in which each team consists of twelve numbers. Out of this, only seven players from each team are active players, and the remaining five players are reserved players. So each team must require at least seven players to play the game. The two team players stand on either side of the midline and the game starts between the two teams. This game is played by an individual person one after the other based on teams.

In this, the player who goes for an offense into the court of another team is referred to as a “raider”. And the persons in that team are referred to as “defenders”. The raider can touch as many people as he can on the opposite team and the players who are touched by the raider are out of the game. And the game continues with each side getting alternate turns.

Important points

• Kabaddi first originated in Southern Asia that too in ancient India.

• It originated in ancient days and was called Sadugudu at that time and practiced since ages.

• The first competition was organized in 1920 which popularized Kabaddi in different places after this competition.

• The game is 40 minutes long.

• It is the official game in the states of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

• After half of the time (20 minutes) the players switch the court.

• The Lobby is the area of the court that is considered active when contact is made between raiders and defenders.

• The International Federation of Kabaddi is the governing body of this game and it was formed in 2004.

Pro Kabaddi League

It was established in 2014 and it is a professional Kabaddi league which broadcasts on star sports. It uses a franchise based model and was first held in 2014 with eight teams. For the 2018-19 season, four new teams were added and the format was changed as the teams are split into two divisions known as zones. At present there are 12 teams in the pro kabaddi league. It was influenced by the asian games in 2006 and the format was influenced by the “Indian Premier League”. It would attract a wide variety of rural and metropolitan viewers and the league gained significant attraction. Star Sports which is a broadcaster of this league, announced in 2015 and acquired a 74% stake in the leagues parent company which is the Mashal sports.

The teams in the Pro Kabaddi League are:

• Bengal Warriors

• Bengaluru Bulls

• Dabang Delhi KC

• Gujarat Giants

• Haryana Steelers

• Jaipur Pink Panthers

• Patna Pirates

• Puneri Paltan

• Tamil Thalaiva

• Telugu Titans

• U Mumba

• UP Yoddha