Punjabi Kabaddi

Punjabi Kabaddi

Kabaddi at the Guru Gobind Singh Stadium
Nicknames	Kauddi
Characteristics
Contact	Yes
Team members	Teams of 8
Venue	Circular pitch
Presence
Country or region	Punjab region in Pakistan and India

Punjabi Kabaddi (Punjabi: پنجابی کبڈی (Shahmukhi); ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਕਬੱਡੀ (Gurmukhi)), also called Kauddi (Punjabi: ਕੌਡੀ) is a contact sport that originated in the Punjab region. There are a number of traditional Punjabi Kabaddi styles traditionally played in the Punjab region. Circle style, also called Punjab Circle Style is played at state and international level and is governed by the Amateur Circle Kabaddi Federation of India.

The term Kabaddi may be derived from the Punjabi word "Kauddi" (Punjabi: ਕੌਡੀ) which is chanted to play Kabaddi or, it is derived from "katta" (calf) (Punjabi: ਕੱਟਾ) and "vaddi" (to chop) (Punjabi: ਵੱਢੀ) which together has become Kabaddi.

In Lambi Kauddi (Punjabi: ਲੰਬੀ ਕੌਡੀ) there are 15 players with a circular pitch of 15–20 feet. There is no outer limit. The players can run as far they can. There is no referee. The raider will say "kauddi, kauddi" throughout the attack.

Saunchi Kauddi (Punjabi: ਸੌਂਚੀ ਕੌਡੀ) (also called Saunchi pakki/Punjabi: ਸੌਂਚੀ ਪੱਕੀ) can best be described as being similar to boxing. It is popular in the Malwa area of Punjab. It is unlimited players with a circular playing pitch. A bamboo with a red cloth is dug into the ground which is paraded by the winner.