Fact Check: Viral video of ‘Slap Kabaddi’ is not from India but Pakistan
Traditional Indian sport Kabaddi is the oldest sport in the world, with a history of more than 4,000 years. Kabaddi is a team sport with 7 players and 3-5 substitute players on the bench.
A video showing a sport named ‘Slap kabaddi’ is falsely attributed to India even while it is from Pakistan
Traditional Indian sport Kabaddi is the oldest sport in the world, with a history of more than 4,000 years. Kabaddi is a team sport with 7 players and 3-5 substitute players on the bench.
However, now, an unusual sport showing a slap fight between two individuals is in circulation with the claim that it is from India. In the video, we can see two men slapping each other going viral with the caption: “Move aside NPCs. Indian slap fights are a new trend that’s emerging on TikTok.”
Fact Check:
The claim is false. The sport ‘Slap Kabaddi’ is from Pakistan.
When we searched using the keywords “Slap Kabaddi India”, we found several reports sharing the same viral video.
According to Wio news, which shares screenshots from the viral video, Slap kabaddi is a legit sport in Pakistan, a twisted version of the traditional sport. The primary difference between Slap Kabaddi and the traditional one is that, instead of tackling or evading opponents, players engage in intense and thrilling slapping contests. This shift in focus adds a new layer of thrill and strategy to the game, as players aim to outsmart their opponents while delivering well-timed and forceful slaps.
The explanatory video shared by India Times also describes that the slap kabaddi is a sport from Pakistan. The description of the video states “This is a legit sport in Pakistan, and it's called Slap Kabaddi. The improvised sport obviously involves a lot of slapping. You can slap your opponent as many times as you want. The number of slaps is not an issue.”
India Today also shared the viral video on its YouTube channel on July 6, 2023. The description: “Kabaddi is a beloved sport in India. But have you ever heard of Thappad aka Slap Kabaddi? It is a new version of Kabaddi which is popular in Pakistan. Watch to know all about this new sport.”
According to Times of India report, Kabaddi, a game played between two teams of seven players, is widely viewed across the nation. However, a Pakistani version of the sport shows a different or rather strange approach towards the sport.
This version is known to be “Thappad” or Slap Kabaddi. Here, instead of tackling, the players have to relentlessly slap the opponent. Slap Kabaddi is more of a one-on-one sport rather than a team game.
The report also shares an interview with a Pakistani Kabaddi player explaining the rules of the sport.
Hence, the video of the sport ‘Slap Kabaddi’ is from Pakistan and not India. The claim is false.