Kabaddi, the age-old Indian contact sport that is under the spotlight all over the world now, had no popularity among the masses a few years ago. It is only after the various leagues and fancy showcasing, that this sport has struck the minds of the people. Since, it is a sport that originated in southern India, and was initially only popular in the Asian subcontinent spreading it all over the world took many efforts. However, international reclamation has only been achieved with the world cups. Back in the early 2000s when the world cups were held, they did not receive the appreciation and viewership it deserved. But, the ballgame has completely changed now and more and more fans are getting glued to this game of strength and endurance with each passing day.
Leaving behind more ruling and stylized sporting traditions like cricket and hockey, etc. kabaddi a mix of wrestling, and the tag was usually considered a chase of the lower classes, an old artefact. With fashionable marketing, celebrity owners, and tweaked rules, kabaddi is also neck to neck with all the sports now.
In the world of kabaddi, India has always aced and been the number one team in almost every International Kabaddi tournament. The World Kabaddi League (WKL) was formed which is officially the first worldwide circle style Kabaddi league and was a historical moment for the sport. Participant countries include India, Pakistan, Canada, USA, and the United Kingdom. While the sport continues to be recognized as Kabaddi across the world, it goes by different names fondly in other countries like and is also Bangladesh’s national sport as well.
A big part of what makes kabaddi appealing to new fans is the sheer simplicity of the game. Sides are broken down into raiders and blockers. It’s raw and it’s fun. Even if one does not understand the fine, intricate details, he/ she can enjoy the utter physicality of a team based, contact sport with no ball and few rules.
The ancient Indian game Kabaddi always had the potential to become a globally popular sport and with the sudden resurrection of this sport, it has now become a stunning reality. Prokabaddi League (PKL) started in 2014 which is a venture by Mashal Sports and supported by Star Sports changed the fortune of Kabaddi across the globe.
Kabaddi has gained acclaim worldwide due to multiple reasons like quickness or the short duration of the match. A match is of 40 minutes which compared to other traditional sports is nothing. Plus, the pace of the match is also fast and in every 30 seconds, there is a raid or a tackle, which is as intense as it can get and keeps the viewers wanting for more. After the onset of “do or die” raids, the pace has increased again. on the other hand, for sports like football, cricket etc. it takes way more time than this to witness action or a significant turn n the game.
in addition to that, its inexpensiveness augments the popularity as one barely needs any equipment or any fancy playing area to start tackling. It has been a timeless sport in India for the past 200 decades and now is spreading its wings in other continents as well. The involvement of players is also pivotal for a sport to be a favorite among the masses. As more players are involved, more action and tactics come out which in turn makes the match more unpredictable. and, which fan does not love some unpredictability and being on the edge of the seats throughout the game? Kabaddi offers just that and at the time of a raid, you can witness that.
All in all, for a certain sport to get popular large amounts of television and media coverage is a must and that is covered for kabaddi with its impeccable recognition with the aid of Star Sports. The overall viewership has grown tremendously in the past 3 years and finally, the players are getting the recognition they actually deserve.