Kabaddi in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (AKFI, IKF, Star Sports Pro Kabaddi).

Overview

Governing body: AKFI
Origin: Ancient India
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Team
Total players listed: …

Kabaddi is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The AKFI 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.

Kabaddi 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.

As a team sport, Kabaddi in India is built around a club, district and state structure that culminates in national-level inter-state competition. State associations affiliated to the AKFI run age-group leagues from under-14 upwards, with the strongest pools historically coming from states with established grassroots infrastructure. Franchise leagues — where they exist — sit on top of this pyramid and have transformed athlete earnings, broadcast visibility and the professionalisation of coaching and support staff. School and college tournaments under SGFI and AIU remain the primary discovery route for players who do not come through a private academy.

At the grassroots, the route into Kabaddi 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.

Kabaddi 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 Kabaddi, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the AKFI, 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. Homegrown contact sport made global by the Pro Kabaddi League.

History

How kabaddi evolved globally and took root in India.

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

In India, kabaddi grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under AKFI, 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.

Kabaddi 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 Achievements

Verified Olympic, World, Asian and Commonwealth milestones for India in kabaddi.

India won every Kabaddi World Cup men's title from 2004 to 2016 (standard style).
India women — Kabaddi World Cup winners 2012, 2014.
Asian Games gold in men's kabaddi from 1990 to 2014 (7 in a row) and 2022; women's gold 2010, 2014.
Pro Kabaddi League — world's premier kabaddi franchise league since 2014, contested by 12 franchises.
Pardeep Narwal — all-time top raider in PKL history (1,700+ raid points).

Famous Indian Players

Landmark kabaddi names from India, past and present.

Pardeep Narwal
PKL's all-time top raider; nicknamed 'Dubki King'.
Anup Kumar
Captain of the 2016 World Cup and 2014 Asian Games gold-winning India teams.
Rakesh Kumar
Multiple Asian Games gold; icon of the raider role.
Ajay Thakur
PKL top-scorer season 4; India captain 2016 World Cup final winner.
Rahul Chaudhari
First PKL raider to 1000 raid points.
Manjeet Chhillar
One of India's finest all-rounders across World Cup and Asian Games campaigns.

Notable Coaches

Head coaches and mentors behind India's leading kabaddi results.

E. Bhaskaran
Longest-serving India men's kabaddi head coach; multiple World Cup and Asian Games golds.
Ram Mehar Singh
Legendary Haryana and India coach; Dronacharya awardee.
Balwan Singh
India women's head coach across multiple Asian Games.

All coaches directory →

Scholarships & Funding

Central, state and private scholarships available for kabaddi athletes in India.

Haryana Sports Department Kabaddi cash awards
State cash awards for medallists at nationals, Asian Games and World Cup.
Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi scholarships
State stipend and boarding for identified junior talent at UP Sports Colleges.
Khelo India Talent Development Scheme (KISCE)
Monthly stipend (₹10,000 for Khelo India athletes), boarding, coaching and kit at accredited centres for identified kabaddi talent (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports).
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
Central government scheme covering training, foreign exposure, equipment and out-of-pocket allowance (up to ₹50,000/month) for medal-prospect kabaddi athletes; administered by the Mission Olympic Cell.
National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports fund used to sponsor elite kabaddi athletes' training, foreign coaches and equipment.

Explore all government schemes →

Indian Players

Loading…

Pardeep NarwalHaryana
All-time top raider in Pro Kabaddi League history.

Browse the full athlete directory →

Rules

Two teams of 7 alternate sending a single 'raider' into the opponent's half, who must tag defenders and return to their own half in one breath while chanting 'kabaddi.' A successful raid scores a point per defender tagged; defenders score by tackling the raider before they return. Matches run two 20-minute halves (Pro Kabaddi format).

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

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a kabaddi squad or competition.

Attackers / forwards
Primary scorers who operate closest to the opposition goal or scoring zone.
Midfielders / all-rounders
Link play between defence and attack; usually the highest work-rate positions.
Defenders
Deny the opposition space and possession in the defensive third.
Goalkeeper / last line
Specialist stopper with distinct kit and rules; the final line of defence.
Captain & vice-captain
On-field leadership, decision-making and communication with match officials.

Equipment

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

No equipment required — played barefoot on a marked court
Court divided into two halves with a baulk line

Governing body

National federation

AKFI

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

Origin: Ancient India
Olympic: No
Category: Team

All federations →

Major Indian Events

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

Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)
AKFI-sanctioned franchise league since 2014; 12 teams.
Senior National Kabaddi Championship
Standard-style state-vs-state nationals under AKFI.
Junior & Sub-Junior National Championships
AKFI age-group nationals.
Federation Cup
Invitational tournament between top state teams.
Women's Kabaddi League (WKL)
Emerging women's franchise league backed by AKFI.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in kabaddi.

Kabaddi World Cup
Standard-style world championship organised under IKF.
Asian Games
Continental championship — kabaddi included since 1990.
Asian Kabaddi Championship
AKC's continental tournament in men's and women's categories.
South Asian Games
SAF regional championship in kabaddi.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for kabaddi. The national championship under AKFI remains the top domestic competition.

All leagues →

International Players

Globally recognised kabaddi athletes to know outside India.

India (Men)
Kabaddi World Cup champions 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016.
India (Women)
Kabaddi World Cup women's champions 2012, 2014.
Iran
Beat India to Asian Games gold in 2018; consistent World Cup finalists.

Records

Where to find India's official kabaddi record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Kabaddi 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 kabaddi are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the AKFI.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in kabaddi are maintained by the AKFI.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for kabaddi and mirrored by AKFI.
National record holdersFederation register
AKFI 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 kabaddi — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

PKL / WKL franchise player
State and national kabaddi team athlete
AKFI-certified coach and referee
Sports quota jobs in Railways, ONGC, Indian Army, Haryana Police
Kabaddi commentary, broadcast and analysis
Academy owner and rural talent scout

Explore sports careers →Coaches directory →

Related academies

11 listed

Balasaheb Thackeray Sports ComplexState
Mumbai, Maharashtra · Since 2014
BMC-run multi-sport facility in suburban Mumbai with elite training tracks.
Indian Railways Sports Promotion BoardElite
New Delhi, Delhi · Since 1928
Departmental sports body that fields India's most successful multi-sport contingents.
Air India Sports Promotion BoardNational
Mumbai, Maharashtra · Since 1972
Long-standing departmental sports body across multiple disciplines.
CRPF Sports AcademyNational
Gurugram, Haryana · Since 1980
Central Reserve Police Force's multi-sport training centre.
Punjab Sports SchoolState
Jalandhar, Punjab · Since 1962
Punjab's flagship residential sports school for school-age athletes.
Rajasthan Sports SchoolState
Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan · Since 1986
Rajasthan's residential sports school for talented young athletes.
Bihar State Sports AcademyState
Rajgir, Bihar · Since 2022
Bihar's new multi-sport residential complex at the Rajgir Sports University.
Chhattisgarh State Sports AcademyState
Raipur, Chhattisgarh · Since 2008
State sports authority's central residential academy at Raipur.
Haryana Kabaddi AcademyElite
Hisar, Haryana · Since 2010
Haryana's elite residential kabaddi academy, producing Pro Kabaddi stars.
Maharashtra State Kabaddi AcademyState
Pune, Maharashtra · Since 2015
Maharashtra's central kabaddi pathway with PKL feeder programmes.
Punjab Circle-Style Kabaddi AcademyState
Amritsar, Punjab · Since 2005
Punjab's traditional circle-style kabaddi academy with national champion alumni.

All academies →List your academy →

Government Schemes

…

Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for kabaddi athletes and academies.

Loading schemes…

All government schemes →

FAQs

Common questions about kabaddi in India.

Who governs kabaddi in India?▾

The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), affiliated to the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) and the Asian Kabaddi Federation.

What is the top kabaddi league?▾

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) — 12 franchises, sanctioned by AKFI, running since 2014.

Is kabaddi an Olympic sport?▾

No — kabaddi is not yet on the Olympic programme. It is contested at the Asian Games, South Asian Games and Kabaddi World Cup.

Which state produces the most kabaddi players?▾

Haryana, followed by Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Kabaddi in every state & UT

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

Kabaddi