Well, (((( Warmie )))), it so happens that my little knowledge of kabaddi is derived indirectly from American football...( Celtic minds operate in mysterious ways...!
)
Twenty years or so ago, Channel 4 started to show American football on Sunday evenings, which I used to watch. This was quite successful for Channel 4. ( Perhaps, because it was:
( A ) Sport
( B ) Something slightly " exotic ", at least in terms of British Sunday night TV...
( C ) It was something that tapped into a definite British interest in U.S culture, politics, etc...)
Anyway, for one year, ( About 18 years ago? ), Channel 4 didn't show any American football. I don't know for why, perhaps there was some sort of rights issue, or perhaps they just wanted to try something else?
So for that year they showed coverage of kabaddi games.
The core idea of the game is to score points by " raiding " into the opponents half of the court. And then, touching as many of the opponents players as possible on a single breath, without getting caught. The players on the defensive side are called " Antis " While the player on the offensive is called the " Raider. "
The " Raider " must start to chant " kabaddi, kabaddi,kabaddi " continuously as soon as they cross the mid line into the other side of the court. ( To demonstrate that they are, in fact, holding their breath. )
The " Antis " touched by the " raider " are declared " out " if they do not succeed in catching the " raider " before the " raider " can return to their own side of the court.
A successful raid can only be achieved by the " raider " touching a defender ( " Anti "), and returning to his/her own side of the court, within the space of one intake of breath, whilst chanting " kabaddi,kabaddi,kabaddi " continuously. A successful " raid " scores one point.
If a defender catches the " raider " successfuly, before the " raider "crosses the mid line, the defending team will be awarded one point for a successful defence, and the unsuccessful " raider " is declared " out ".
( Obviously, there's more to it than that. But, I have only a spectator's knowledge of the game. So, I hope any British/Asian, Indian or Pakistani kabaddi experts will forgive me for any errors!
)
(((( crystalgaze )))), I'm not sure that cooking + decorating shows would be a good idea...I have a rather unsettling mental image of a TV show host at the top of a stepladder, trying to put up wallpaper and make lasagne at the same time!
Then again, I don't really know much about cooking and decorating...
)
