Kabaddi is a contact team sport of South Asian origin — a raider runs into the opposing half, tags as many defenders as possible, and must return while holding their breath (chanting "kabaddi"). Kabaddi is an official sport at the Asian Games and has a large following in Australia's South Asian communities. Kabaddi Australia governs the sport. This guide covers the key funding sources for kabaddi clubs.
Kabaddi Australia is the national governing body:
- National competition events
- State associations
- International connections (Asian Kabaddi Federation, World Kabaddi Federation)
- Junior development
Contact Kabaddi Australia and your state body for access to sport investment.
Kabaddi in Australia:
- Indian community: Largest kabaddi-playing community in Australia
- South Asian communities: Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Nepali communities also play
- Cultural connection: Kabaddi is deeply connected to Indian and South Asian cultural identity
Sport Australia funds kabaddi through Kabaddi Australia:
- Growing multicultural sport investment
- Community participation
State sport agencies fund community kabaddi:
- NSW Office of Sport: Multicultural community sport grants
- Sport and Recreation Victoria: Growing sport investment
- State agencies: Kabaddi development across Australia
Gaming grants fund kabaddi clubs:
- NSW ClubGRANTS: Community sport development
- State gaming trusts: Equipment and programme grants
Gaming grant applications for kabaddi:
- Wrestling-style mat (foam or tatami — kabaddi played on matting or dirt) — $2,000–$8,000 for mat set
- Kabaddi uniforms
- Indoor court booking costs
- Junior programme development
Multicultural-specific funding for kabaddi:
- Multicultural NSW: Community and cultural sport grants
- Multicultural Victoria: Multicultural community development
- State multicultural affairs: Community cultural sport
- Local councils: Multicultural sport programmes
Kabaddi's strong cultural connection to South Asian communities is a significant funding strength for multicultural funders.
Kabaddi requires:
- Playing surface: Soft dirt (traditional) or wrestling mat (indoor) — $2,000–$8,000 for indoor mat
- Court markings: Lines on the playing surface
- Uniforms: Teams wear matching uniforms
Equipment costs are relatively low compared to many sports — the mat is the primary investment for indoor clubs.
Junior development:
- Youth clubs: Kabaddi for second-generation South Asian youth
- Schools programmes: Kabaddi in multicultural school contexts
- Junior competition: Age-grade events at state and national level
Women's kabaddi:
- Women's categories: Full women's competition at national and international level
- Cultural leadership: South Asian women's sport development
- Sport Australia: Women in sport investment
Local councils fund multicultural community sport:
- Community sport grants: Sport for cultural communities
- Park and recreation: Outdoor kabaddi space
- Cultural events: Kabaddi tournaments as cultural community events
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Members by age, gender, and cultural community background
- South Asian community: Authentic South Asian cultural leadership and membership
- Equipment: Mat and court — justified per club size
- Junior development: Youth players — second-generation connection to cultural sport
- Women's participation: Female players and women-specific programmes
- Cultural outcomes: Cultural identity and community belonging through kabaddi
- Organisation governance: Affiliation to Kabaddi Australia and state body
Tahua's grants management platform helps kabaddi clubs manage grant applications across sport agencies, multicultural funders, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking participation, cultural, and youth development outcomes.