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Traditional

Lagori

Lagori is played and developed across India under the Amateur Lagori Federation of India, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

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Overview

Governing body
Amateur Lagori Federation of India
Origin
Ancient India
Olympic discipline
No
Category
Traditional
Total players listed

Lagori is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The Amateur Lagori Federation of India 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.

Lagori 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.

Lagori is a traditional Indian discipline whose modern competitive structure has been built around the Amateur Lagori Federation of India. 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 Lagori 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.

Lagori 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 Lagori, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the Amateur Lagori Federation of India, 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. Lagori is played and developed across India under the Amateur Lagori Federation of India, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How lagori evolved globally and took root in India.

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

In India, lagori grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under Amateur Lagori Federation of India, 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.

Lagori 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

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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: Amateur Lagori Federation of India. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a lagori 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 lagori 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
Amateur Lagori Federation of India

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

Origin
Ancient India
Olympic
No
Category
Traditional

Major Indian Events

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

  • Amateur Lagori Federation of India Senior National Championship

    The primary domestic lagori title and the main selection trial for the senior India team.

  • Amateur Lagori Federation of India 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 — Lagori

    India's largest multi-sport scouting platform; medallists become eligible for KIA stipends and boarding at accredited centres.

  • National Games of India — Lagori

    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 lagori.

  • Asian Games & Asian Championships

    Continental championship pathway sanctioned by Amateur Lagori Federation of India; medallists receive central and state cash awards.

  • Commonwealth Games / Championships

    Commonwealth-level competition where India regularly fields medal contenders in lagori.

  • World Championships

    The senior world title event of the international federation — the peak of the lagori calendar outside the Olympic year.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for lagori. The national championship under Amateur Lagori Federation of India remains the top domestic competition.

All leagues →

International Players

Globally recognised lagori 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 lagori record book.

  • Olympic medalsN/A

    Lagori 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 lagori are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Amateur Lagori Federation of India.

  • Commonwealth medalsTracked

    Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in lagori are maintained by the Amateur Lagori Federation of India.

  • World Championship medalsTracked

    Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for lagori and mirrored by Amateur Lagori Federation of India.

  • National record holdersFederation register

    Amateur Lagori Federation of India 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 lagori — 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

Related academies

0 listed

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

Government Schemes

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

Loading schemes…

All government schemes →

FAQs

Common questions about lagori in India.

Who governs Lagori in India?

Amateur Lagori Federation of India is the recognised national federation for Lagori in India. State associations under Amateur Lagori Federation of India run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Lagori an Olympic sport?

Lagori 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 Amateur Lagori Federation of India.

How do I start playing Lagori 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 Lagori 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 Lagori?

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 Lagori athletes selected for international events?

Amateur Lagori Federation of India 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.

Lagori in every state & UT

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