This is the season of Kabaddi in Pakistan with the inaugural edition of Super Kabaddi League in full swing at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex in Lahore these days. Action-packed encounters of the Super Kabaddi League are enthralling audiences every day and the excitement is set to reach its peak in the coming days as the competition reaches its climax. With the final set to be contested on May 10, 2018, the heat is on and teams are leaving it all on the mat in their bid to make it to the grand finale. The lure of the big prize and a chance to forever cement their place in Pakistani Kabaddi folklore as the inaugural SKL champions will surely give extra motivation to the competing teams to pull out all stops and go for the jugular with every raid and every defensive play.
Sports enthusiasts in Pakistan have been thoroughly enjoying the high-intensity encounters in a format that has reignited the interest of the masses in Kabaddi. Across the border in neighboring India, the Pro Kabaddi League has been running successfully since 2014. Organizers of the SKL are hoping to replicate similar popularity for the sport here in Pakistan. And with the Super Kabaddi League entering its final few days, the time is right to bring to you some of the lesser-known but nevertheless interesting facts about the game of Kabaddi. Read on to find out just what they are.
1) Tamil Origin Name
The word Kabaddi actually originates from the Tamil language. It is derived from the Tamil term “Kavadi” which means “to grasp firmly by the arms.” There is also a misconception here. Most people who know about the origins of the name think that it is the Tamil term “Kai Pidi” from which the name has been derived. This is not true. The correct term, as mentioned earlier, is “Kavadi.”
2) Ancient Origins
Kabaddi is an ancient sport, to say the least. It dates back nearly 4000 years and has its origins in ancient India. It has been mentioned in many Indian mythological tales as well as Buddhist literature.
3) One Sport, Many Names
Kabaddi is a unique sport in that it has a number of different names. It is known by these different names in different regions of South Asia. In India alone, it is known by four or five different names. In the southern part of India, it is known as Chedugudu, while in parts of northern India it is known as Kaunbada. Hadudu is the name that is used in the eastern part of the country while in the western part it is known as Hatutu.
The sport enjoys massive popularity in India as well as the neighboring countries of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. It is the national sport of Bangladesh while Pakistan is also one of the game’s traditional powerhouses along with India. Other nations where Kabaddi is played regularly include Maldives, Spain, Argentina, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, and the United States.
4) Olympic Flirtation
Kabaddi had its first exposure on a global stage when it was presented at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Though it is yet to fully become an Olympic sport (plans are in the pipeline to include Kabaddi in the list of sports at the 2024 Olympics to be staged in Paris, France), the presentation was a successful one and the world was left intrigued by this unique contact sport. Two years after this presentation, Kabaddi was included as a competition for the first time at the Indian National Games in Calcutta.
These were just some of the many interesting facts about this exciting and engaging indigenous sport of South Asia. We will be bringing you some more interesting facts in the near future. Till then, enjoy these unique insights into the world of Kabaddi and gear up for the SKL final that is just around the corner. Keep watching this space too as the coming days will bring more such exciting posts and updates. Till next time, Godspeed.