An introduction to kabaddi at the Asian Games

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In one of the biggest upsets ever at the Asian Games, India's men's kabaddi team's advance was stopped by Iran in the semi-finals. The defending champions and World Cup winners were beaten 27-18 in just their second loss ever in the event, preventing them from reaching the final for the first time.

However, many people probably don't know much about this ancient Indian game and China did not enter a team in this event.

Kabaddi is a contact team sport. Played between two squads of seven players, the object of the game is for a single player on offense, referred to as a "raider," to run into the opposing team's half of the court.

It tags out as many of their defenders as possible and must return to his own half of the court, all without being tackled by the defenders, and in a single breath.

India's players (in white shorts) try to tackle Indonesia's Laraswati Ni Putu Dewi (C-in black shorts) during the women's team Group A kabaddi match between India and Indonesia at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

Points are scored for each player tagged by the raider, while the opposing team earns a point for stopping the raider. Players are taken out of the game if they are tagged or tackled but can be "revived" for each point scored by their team from a tag or tackle.

Two major disciplines of kabaddi exist; Punjabi kabaddi, also known as "circle style," refers to traditional styles of the sport that are played on a circular field outdoors.

The "standard style," played on a rectangular court indoors, is a discipline primarily played in major professional leagues, as well as international competitions such as the Asian Games.

It is popular in the Indian subcontinent and other surrounding and South Asian countries, such as Iran and Pakistan. After being demonstrated at the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi, kabaddi was added to the Asian Games' competition program beginning in 1990.