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WORLD Kabaddi, as part of its strategic plan to promote the sports of kabaddi, has selected March 24 as World Kabaddi Day.

Kabaddi is a contact team sport played between two teams of seven players. The object of the game is for a single player on offence, referred to as a “raider”, to run into the opposing team’s half of a court, tag out as many of their defenders as possible, and return to their own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders, and in a single breath.

Points are scored for each player tagged by the raider, while the opposing team earns a point for stopping the raider. Players are taken out of the game if they are tagged or tackled, but can be “revived” for each point scored by their team from a tag or tackle.

The sport is popular in the Indian subcontinent and other surrounding Asian countries. Although accounts of kabaddi appear in the histories of both ancient India and ancient Sistan, the game was popularised as a competitive sport in the 20th century by India; it is the state game of the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. It is also the national sport of Bangladesh.

And World Kabaddi, with a membership of more than 50 countries around the world, hopes to initiate kabaddi related activities on the week starting March 24 in at least 100 countries, including Zimbabwe, in the new year.

World Kabaddi president Ashok Kumar Das said that the brand new initiative by the organisation was designed to raise more awareness to the ancient sport of kabaddi.

“Kabaddi is now played in all five continents and is undergoing tremendous growth. This is also evident in the increased interest in the nations participating at the World Cup Kabaddi in 2019,” said Ashok, who is also the President of Kabaddi Europe.

The World Cup Kabaddi to be held in Melaka, Malaysia, from April 2-15 will see a record 32 men’s team and 24 women’s team vying for the honours. The date chosen as World Kabaddi Day also coincides with the formation of World Kabaddi when representatives from more than 50 countries from all five continents gathered in Bangalore.

Under the kabaddi enthusiasts from around the world are encouraged to conduct at least one kabaddi activity on the said day.

The objective was to make it a celebration of kabaddi around the world.

The event in each country should be designed to be a fun event that creates awareness and enthusiasm for kabaddi in the participating communities.

The event should be designed for everyone, regardless of age, background or fitness level. With a focus on grassroots initiatives, it should inspire people to take up kabaddi competitively or socially.

Apart from member associations in each country, schools and other organisations are also encouraged to organise kabaddi events of their own.

Kabaddi has its origins in India and is said to be more than 5,000 years old. Indian literature including the 17th century poet Tukaram in his Marathi literary collection Abhanga Gatha has indicated the game was played during the Vedic period.

Buddhist literature also mentions that Gautama Buddha played the game with his peers for recreation.

There are also claims that the game was played by the Iranians 5 000 years ago at Shahr-e-Sukhteh (Burnt City) near the banks of the Helmand  River.

World Kabaddi hopes to kindle the interest for kabaddi among the younger generation by encouraging various activities including friendly matches, competitions, demonstration and exhibitions during the celebration of World Kabaddi Day. The theme chosen for the World Kabaddi Day 2019 is One Vision, One Spirit, One Kabaddi.