What is kabaddi?
A contact team sport of raids and tackles, played seven a side on a court no bigger than a classroom. Here is how a match works.
The raid
Two teams of seven take the court, one in each half. They take turns to send a single player — the raider — across the midline into the other half.
The raider’s job is to touch one or more defenders and get back over the midline. Traditionally the raider chants “kabaddi” throughout to show the raid is made on one breath; modern competitions also put a 30-second limit on each raid.
The defence
The seven defenders try to stop the raider getting home — by holding, blocking or bringing them down before they touch the midline. Defenders often link hands to form a chain, closing on the raider together.
A good defence waits: a defender who moves too early can be touched and put out.
Scoring
- Touch points. A raider who touches defenders and returns scores a point for each defender touched. Those defenders are out.
- Tackle points. Stop the raider returning and the defending side scores a point, and the raider is out.
- Bonus point. With six or more defenders on court, a raider who reaches the bonus line in the opposing half scores an extra point.
- Revival. Players who are out come back on as their team scores points.
- All out. Put out all seven opponents and your team earns extra points, and the whole opposing side returns to the court.
- Super tackle. A side down to three or fewer defenders that still stops the raider earns an extra point.
A match
A senior men’s match is two halves of 20 minutes. The team with more points at the end wins; squads carry substitutes, and players can be changed during the match within the competition’s rules.
What you need to play
A marked court, a mat indoors, and players in proper kabaddi kit and shoes — which is why the game spreads so quickly through schools and colleges. KKU’s junior championship is played on synthetic mats at the Kenya Academy of Sports.
This is a summary for new players and fans. The laws of the game are set by the International Kabaddi Federation, and KKU’s technical team decides how they apply in Kenyan competitions.
Kabaddi in Kenya
Kenyan kabaddi is barely a decade old and already produces Africa’s champions. The Premier League plays at Kasarani, the national teams compete in Africa and Asia, and Kenyans have played in India’s Pro Kabaddi League since its second season.