Gilli-Danda in Lakshadweep

Overview

Governing body: State associations
Origin: Ancient India
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Traditional
Total players listed: …

Gilli-Danda is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The State associations oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Gilli-Danda is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

Gilli-Danda is a traditional Indian discipline whose modern competitive structure has been built around the State associations. Origin in Ancient India gives the sport deep cultural roots, and tournaments at the National Games, state championships and dedicated national meets have helped formalise the rules, age categories and selection processes. State governments where the sport originated typically lead funding, with central support routed through the Ministry's Scheme for Promotion of Indigenous Games.

At the grassroots, the route into Gilli-Danda typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Gilli-Danda originated in Ancient India, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Gilli-Danda, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the State associations, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Gilli-Danda is played and developed across India under the State associations, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How gilli-danda evolved globally and took root in India.

Gilli-Danda traces its modern origins to Ancient India. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and State associations is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, gilli-danda grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under State associations, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Gilli-Danda sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Indian Players

Loading…

Browse the full athlete directory →

Rules

Rules blend the original Indian format with modern federation standardisation — mat size, bout duration, points, raider/defender roles, weight categories and officiating are all codified by the national federation. Age-group events run to junior/sub-junior variations of the senior rules.

Authoritative rulebook: State associations. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a gilli-danda squad or competition.

Raider / attacker
Traditional role responsible for scoring points in the opposition half.
Defender / anchor
Prevents the raider from returning and holds the defensive line.
All-rounder / captain
Both raids and defends; captain also runs on-field strategy.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in gilli-danda at a federation-recognised event.

Federation-approved mat, court or field to national spec
Match kit for both sides and referees
Score console, timer and PA system
Coaching board, cones and training kit
Officials' whistles, flags and signal equipment

Governing body

National federation

State associations

State associations is the recognised national body for Gilli-Danda in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for gilli-danda. State associations under State associations run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: Ancient India
Olympic: No
Category: Traditional

All federations →

Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the gilli-danda calendar in India.

State associations Senior National Championship
The primary domestic gilli-danda title and the main selection trial for the senior India team.
State associations Junior & Sub-Junior National Championship
Age-group nationals that feed the Khelo India Talent Development scheme and the senior camp.
Khelo India Youth Games & University Games — Gilli-Danda
India's largest multi-sport scouting platform; medallists become eligible for KIA stipends and boarding at accredited centres.
National Games of India — Gilli-Danda
Quadrennial multi-sport meet contested by state teams; state governments give cash awards, jobs and land grants to medallists.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in gilli-danda.

Asian Games & Asian Championships
Continental championship pathway sanctioned by State associations; medallists receive central and state cash awards.
Commonwealth Games / Championships
Commonwealth-level competition where India regularly fields medal contenders in gilli-danda.
World Championships
The senior world title event of the international federation — the peak of the gilli-danda calendar outside the Olympic year.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for gilli-danda. The national championship under State associations remains the top domestic competition.

All leagues →

International Players

Globally recognised gilli-danda athletes to know outside India.

Fazel Atrachali (Iran)
One of world kabaddi's most decorated defenders.
Meraj Sheykh (Iran)
Iranian kabaddi captain and Asian Games medallist.
Iran Kabaddi (Team)
Asian Games gold and multi-time World Cup finalists.

Records

Where to find India's official gilli-danda record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Gilli-Danda is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in gilli-danda are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the State associations.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in gilli-danda are maintained by the State associations.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for gilli-danda and mirrored by State associations.
National record holdersFederation register
State associations publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in gilli-danda — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Professional athlete in the domestic franchise league, state team and national side
Coach at grassroots, state and national level
Referee, umpire and technical official
Physio, S&C and video-analysis support
Sports quota government jobs and state sports awards
Coaching-academy owner and equipment supplier

Explore sports careers →Coaches directory →

Related academies

0 listed

No gilli-danda academies are catalogued in the directory yet. Browse the full academy list or list your academy to appear here.

All academies →List your academy →

Government Schemes

…

Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for gilli-danda athletes and academies.

Loading schemes…

All government schemes →

FAQs

Common questions about gilli-danda in India.

Who governs Gilli-Danda in India?▾

State associations is the recognised national federation for Gilli-Danda in India. State associations under State associations run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Gilli-Danda an Olympic sport?▾

Gilli-Danda is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by State associations.

How do I start playing Gilli-Danda in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Gilli-Danda athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Gilli-Danda?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Gilli-Danda athletes selected for international events?▾

State associations runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Gilli-Danda in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Gilli-Danda in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Gilli-Danda