Kabaddi is a popular team sport that originated in India and is now played in many countries around the world. It is a contact sport, often referred to as a combination of wrestling and tag. The game is played by two teams, and the objective is for a player (raider) to enter the opponent’s half, tag as many opponents as possible, and return to their half without being caught. Here are the basic rules of Kabaddi:

Teams and Players:

1. Each team consists of 7 players on the field, with additional players available as substitutes.
2. The playing area is divided into two halves, and each team defends one half while trying to raid the opponent’s half.

Objective: The objective of Kabaddi is to score points by raiding the opponent’s half and tagging as many players as possible without getting caught.

Gameplay:

1. Raiding: The game begins with a toss to decide which team will raid first. The team that wins the toss gets to choose whether to raid or defend first.
2. Raiding Team (Offense): A player from the raiding team, known as the “raider,” enters the opponent’s half to perform a raid. The raider must chant “Kabaddi, Kabaddi” continuously during the raid, without taking a breath.
3. Defending Team (Defense): The defending team tries to stop the raider from returning to their half. They can do this by catching the raider, preventing them from returning, or pushing them out of bounds.
4. Tagging and Capturing: To score points, the raider must touch any of the defenders and return to their half. If the raider is able to touch an opponent and return safely, the tagged player is out and must leave the field for the remainder of that round.
5. Bonus Point: If the raider manages to cross a specific line (usually the bonus line) on the opponent’s side during the raid, they earn an additional point for their team.
6. Reviving Players: When a defender is out, their team can revive them by successfully tagging an opponent on a subsequent raid.
7. Switching Sides: After each half, the teams switch sides, and the team that defended in the first half gets the chance to raid.
8. Scoring: The team that scores the most points at the end of the match wins.

Rules and Fouls:

• If a raider is caught or goes out of bounds during the raid, they are considered out.
• If a defender holds the raider and prevents them from returning to their half, the raider is out.
• If the raider does not chant “Kabaddi, Kabaddi” continuously during the raid, they are out.
• Players must not use physical force beyond what is allowed in the game, and dangerous play is considered a foul.

Kabaddi is a fast-paced and physically demanding sport that requires strength, agility, and strategy. It is widely played and enjoyed in various forms and formats, including amateur and professional competitions, making it a significant part of Indian and South Asian sports culture.