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Kabaddi is team pursuit sport, primarily played in India. Kabaddi is known by various names in India - chedugudu in the south, hadudu in the east, and kabaddi in the north. The game is also popular in surrounding countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

The Game

Two teams compete in kabaddi, scoring by touching or capturing the players of the opposing team. Each team has 12 players, seven are on court at a time, and five in reserve. The two teams compete for higher scores, alternating defence and offense.

The game consists of two 20 minute halves, with a break of five minutes for change of sides. The kabaddi playing area is 12.5m x 10m, divided into two halves.

The attacking side sends a 'raider', who enters the opponents' half of the court chanting, 'kabaddi-kabaddi' repeatedly to show he is not breathing in. The raider's aim is to touch any players on the opposing side, and return to his court in one breath. The person, whom the raider touches, will then be out.

The aim of the opposing team, will be to hold the raider, and stop him from returning to his own court, until he takes another breath. If the raider cannot return to his court in the same breath he is out.

Each team alternates in sending a player into the opponents' half of the court. If a player goes over a boundary line during the course of the play, or if any part of his body touches the ground outside the boundary, he will be out, except during a struggle.

A team scores a bonus of two points, called a lona, if the entire opposing team is declared out.

Matches are staged on the basis of age and weight.

Seven officials supervise a match - one referee, two umpires, two linesmen, a time keeper and a scorer.

• Team sports