Kabaddi is counted among the most common and widely played traditional sports in India. There is a popular belief that Kabaddi originated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. According to a legend, this game came into existence, when a boy hit another boy for his candy. The boy who was hit chased the boy who hit him, and hit him back and ran away. The feature of holding the breath while chasing, was added later when the game evolved. Kabaddi is the game, where one person play against seven people. Kabaddi is also known as the "Game of the Masses" and it has simple, easy to comprehend rules. The game requires minimum equipment while having all the ingredients of thrill and excitement and audience appeal. Sometimes, the people enjoy the game of Kabaddi more than any other popular game, like Football or Basketball.

Kabaddi is probably the only game of offence and defense in which attack is an individual attempt, while defense is a combined effort. The Tamil speaking people know the game in various names like Kabaddi, Sadugudu, Gudugudu, Palinjadugudu and Sadugoodatthi (Tamil). The word `Kabaddi` may have originated from the Tamil words kai (hand) and pidi (catch). Kabaddi is also known as Chedugudu or Hu-Tu-Tu in southern parts of India, Hadudu (Men) and Chu - Kit-Kit (women) in eastern India, and as Kabaddi in northern India. The sport has earned a lot of popularity in the other Asian nations like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Japan and Pakistan.

In India, Kabaddi is quite famous and popular in the state of Punjab. There is also a popular belief that the game has its roots in the way Abhimanyu was killed in Chakravyuha by the Kauravas. Kabaddi is a rather simple and inexpensive game, and it does not require a massive playing area, or any expensive equipments. For this inexpensive nature, the game of Kabaddi has become extremely popular in rural India.