How Women have impacted Kabaddi over the years in Asian Games

Kabaddi has captured the hearts of sports fans across India over the years. The Kabaddi has become a household name in recent times in India. However, it took several years for women to get there, especially, in the Asian Games. While the men's kabaddi became a part of the Asian Games in 1990, women had to wait for ten more years to get there. So far, women's kabaddi tournaments have taken place only thrice in the Asian Games.

Women had to wait for a long time to get into the Asian Games. Even though women do not have as many tournaments as men, they do put up a good show in the Asian Games.

When Kabaddi made an official entry to the Asian Games, India dominated as expected. The women's kabaddi made it to other Asian countries only a few years ago, and many other countries are still in the learning phase.

Therefore, in 2010 when the game became a part of the Asian Games, Indian women showed the way to others by putting up a show. Amongst the seven entries for the games, India won all their matches to remain to clinch the gold medal in the first edition. India defeated Thailand in the final of the Asia Games 2010 to clinch the gold.

In 2014, seven teams participated in the Games. India and Iran were the dominant teams in the competition. They met in the finals, which India ended up winning. Iran lost only to India in the whole competition. India, on the other hand, remained unbeaten in this Asian Games as well. In the final, India defeated Iran by 31-21 to clinch the gold.

After 2014, Iran women did not participate in several tournaments and because of the lack of tournaments, many women left the kabaddi game and took up other jobs. In fact, in 2017, Iran coach Shailaja Jain had to google a few players from 2014 to get them back to training before the 2018 Asian Games. The team had 45 camps before the Asian Games, and as a result, they managed to put up an outstanding show in the 2018 edition.

Later in the 2018 Asian Games, nine teams participated. India topped Group A with four wins. Iran topped Group B with two wins from three matches. India and Iran met in the final of the competition and Iran stunned India by winning the gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games. The victory of Iran women in the Kabaddi did make an impact in the country as the team began to get more opportunities to play than they used to before the Asian Games. In fact, the team even got an opportunity to feature in Asian Beach Games.

The Kabaddi games for women in the Asian Games have impacted the game to grow more. Today, just like Pro Kabaddi League for men, there could be a Pro Kabaddi League for women as well. According to reports, after the success of cricket's Women's Premier League, the Federation is in talks to make an effort to come up with a league for women. Though there was a league in 2016 with three teams, the league did not continue for the next season.

Also, recently, there was a Women's Kabaddi League in Dubai. Eight teams participated in the League, and Uma Kolkata defeated Punjab Panthers to lift the trophy.

Women's Kabaddi has a long way to go in Asian Games as well as in general, but the game and popularity are rising at the moment. The 2023 Asian Games could be even bigger, and all eyes will be on the Indian team as they will look to take revenge on the Iran women's Kabaddi team for beating them in Jakarta in 2018. It will be interesting to see how the other teams rise to the occasion to challenge both India and Iran.