How have the rules of kabaddi evolved over the years?

Kabaddi, a popular contact sport with roots in ancient India, has evolved over the years through changes in rules and formats. The best kabaddi betting is currently available at 1xBet, and it can be made on plenty of competitions too.

It has become a highly competitive and organized sport with international recognition. The transformation of kabaddi has been driven by 3 main factors. They include:

• a desire to standardize the game;
• ensuring player safety;
• and making the sport more spectator-friendly.

Kabaddi’s origins can be traced back over 4,000 years to the Indian subcontinent. Initially, it was played as a form of exercise, combat training, and entertainment. The earliest form of kabaddi, known as “Hadudu” in ancient texts, was a simple contest where 1 player had to tag as many opponents as possible. Of course, in this game that was played 4 millennia ago, he needed to do so without getting caught or running out of breath. The best betting is present at 1xBet, where a fully-fledged kabaddi section is available too.

As kabaddi gained popularity, various regions in India developed their own rules and variations of the game. These regional differences made it challenging to standardize kabaddi, and the lack of uniformity hindered its growth as a competitive sport.

Making the game as standard as possible

The process of standardizing kabaddi rules began in the early 20th century. Various organizations and governing bodies recognized the need for consistency and established common rules. The All India Kabaddi Federation (AIKF), founded in 1950, played a pivotal role in this process. There is line kabaddi betting at 1xBet, which punters can also make on all competitions of this sport too.

There were many key changes and rule standardizations during this period in the mid-20th century. In 1st place we have the team size. Initially, the number of players on a team varied regionally. The AIKF established that a kabaddi team would consist of 7 players on the 2 teams that play against each other. This is a format that remains unchanged in modern kabaddi.

In 2nd place, the size of the playing field was standardized, with dimensions set at 13m x 10m for the court, surrounded by a 1-meter-wide boundary.

Thirdly, the AIKF introduced the concept of “raids”, where an attacking player, known as the “raider”, enters the opponent’s half to tag as many defenders as possible and return safely to his half within a specified time.

In 4th place, the rules for determining whether a player was “out” or “revived” were standardized. A player was considered out if he was tagged and failed to return to his half within the stipulated time. Conversely, a player was revived if he successfully tagged an opponent and returned to his half.

The emergence of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) in India in 2014 marked a significant turning point in the evolution of kabaddi. The PKL introduced several changes to the traditional game to make it more appealing to a wider audience and attract corporate sponsorship. In the 1st of those changes, the PKL adopted a franchise-based team ownership model, similar to other professional sports leagues, to create a sense of city-based loyalty and competition.

Secondly, the Pro Kabaddi League allowed international players to participate, fostering a global appeal and introducing new talent to the sport. Additionally, the PKL introduced additional rules to make the game more dynamic and spectator-friendly. Features like the “super tackle” and “do-or-die raids” added excitement and strategy to the matches.

Furthermore, the PKL increased the number of teams and extended the league’s duration, providing a longer competitive season and more opportunities for fans to engage with the sport. The line betting available at the 1xBet platform also covers all events from the Pro Kabaddi League, where excellent and rewarding wagers can be made.