Ganga Damodar Kabaddi Championship
Saksham HospitalGANGA DAMODARKabaddi Championship 2026

Tournament Rules

Format, scoring, and progression details for the championship.

Tournament Format

  • - The Ganga Damodar Kabaddi Championship follows a League & Knockout hybrid format.
  • - 8 Men's teams (5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand) compete in a pool stage followed by knockout rounds.

Men's Tournament Structure

  • - 8 teams are divided into 2 pools of 4 teams each: Pool A and Pool B.
  • - Each team plays 3 matches: 2 within their pool and 1 cross-pool match.
  • - Total league matches: 15 matches across 3 days.
  • - Top 2 teams from each pool qualify for the knockout stage.
  • - Semi Final 1: Pool A Rank 1 vs Pool B Rank 2.
  • - Semi Final 2: Pool B Rank 1 vs Pool A Rank 2.
  • - Grand Final: Winner of Semi Final 1 vs Winner of Semi Final 2.

Points System

  • - Win: 2 Points
  • - Loss: 0 Points
  • - No match will end in a tie. Standard scoring system applies.

Powerplay Points Rule

  • - During Powerplay, a team earns +1 additional Powerplay point for every valid raid point or tackle point scored.
  • - Each team may activate Powerplay only once per match.
  • - Powerplay duration is 3 minutes in a 30-minute match and 4 minutes in a 40-minute match.
  • - Both teams choose their own activation time, and Powerplay periods may overlap.
  • - Powerplay is optional; teams are not required to take it.
  • - A team can activate Powerplay at any point in the match, including late moments when only part of the duration remains.
  • - If Powerplay starts late in the first half and halftime arrives, the remaining Powerplay time carries into the second half.
  • - To activate Powerplay, the team must inform the Match Official before the raid starts, and the official signals when Powerplay is ON.
  • - No substitutions are allowed during Powerplay, except injury substitutions approved at the referee's discretion.
  • - Powerplay points are bonus scoring only and do not cause additional player revival.
  • - If a raid begins while Powerplay is active and ends after the timer has elapsed, Powerplay scoring still applies for that raid.
  • - The Powerplay timer pauses during team timeouts and official timeouts.
  • - Powerplay point applies to successful raids with multiple points, bonus points, normal tackles, super tackles, and all outs.
  • - No Powerplay point is awarded for technical points or empty raids.

Tie-Breaker Rules

  • - If two or more teams finish with equal points, the following tie-breakers apply in order:
  • - 1. Total Points
  • - 2. Score Difference (total points scored minus total points conceded)
  • - 3. Head-to-Head result between tied teams
  • - 4. Raid Points Difference

Individual Awards

  • - Best Raider — Awarded to the player with the most raid points in the tournament.
  • - Best Defender — Awarded to the player with the most tackle points.
  • - Best MVP — Awarded to the player with the best imapactful performance.

About Kabaddi

  • - Kabaddi is one of India's oldest and most popular contact sports, with roots tracing back over 4,000 years.
  • - The game is played between two teams of seven players each on a rectangular court.
  • - A raider enters the opposing half, tries to tag defenders, and must return to their half — all in a single breath while chanting 'kabaddi'.
  • - Defenders work together to tackle and hold the raider before they can return.
  • - Points are scored through successful raids (tag points) and successful tackles.
  • - The sport tests a player's strength, speed, agility, lung capacity, and tactical intelligence.
  • - Bihar and Jharkhand have a rich tradition of kabaddi, with the sport deeply embedded in the region's rural culture and festivals.