Kabadi recognised as the national game of Bangladesh,
kabadi is played by two teams of 12 players each on a 12.50
metre by 10 metre rectangular court in which a player, while
holding his breath, dashes into the opponent team's area, touches
some player(s) and/or wrestles out to come back home safely without
releasing his breath and thereby scores point for his team. The
team consists of 12 players but only seven play in the court and
the rest stay out of court as extras. While intruding into the
opponents' area the player clearly and audibly repeats the word
'kabadi' without break and without releasing the breath. This is
called cant or 'dak' (note). The time for the match
comprises two halves of 20 minutes each and 5 minutes break in
between. A team earns one point by throwing out each one player of
the opposite side. Two extra points are added as bonus when all
players of the opponent party are out. The team that earns the
greater number of points in the stipulated time wins the
game.
Kabadi is a very popular game in Bangladesh, especially
in the villages and, for that, it is also called the 'game of rural
Bengal'. In some areas kabadi is also known as ha-du-du. But
despite its popularity ha-du-du had no definite rules and it used
to be played with different rules in different areas. Ha-du-du was
given the name kabadi and the status of National Game in
1972.
Bangladesh Amateur Kabadi Federation was formed in
1973. It framed rules and regulations for the game. Bangladesh
first played kabadi test in 1974 with a visiting Indian team, which
played test matches with the district teams of Dhaka, Tangail,
Dinajpur, Jessore, Faridpur and Comilla. In 1978, the Asian Amateur
Kabadi Federation was formed at a conference of delegates from
Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan in the Indian town of
Villai.
In 1979, a return test between Bangladesh and India was
held at different places of India including Bombay, Hyderabad, and
Punjab. The Asian Kabadi Championship was successfully arranged in
1980 and India emerged as the champion and Bangladesh as the
runners-up. Bangladesh became runners-up again in 1985 in Asian
Kabadi Championship held in Jaipur, India. The other teams included
in the tournament were Nepal, Malaysia and Japan. Kabadi was
included for the first time in Asian Games held in Beijing in 1990.
Bangladesh took part in it and won silver medal.
The tournaments arranged by Bangladesh Kabadi
Federation include National Kabadi Competition, National Youth
Kabadi Competition, Premier Kabadi, First Division Kabadi League,
Second Division Kabadi League, Independence Day Kabadi Competition,
Victory Day Kabadi Competition, Baishakhi Kabadi Fair, Boys' Kabadi
Competition and School Kabadi Competition. Teams of different
services (Bangladesh Rifles, Police, Fire Service and the Army),
clubs, and corporations play kabadi in Bangladesh. Major local
clubs that play kabadi include Dilkusha Sporting Club, Dhaka
Wanderer's Club, Brothers' Union, Maniknagar Kabadi Club and
Bangladesh Bank Club.
