Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was asked to decide on the national sport for the new country. Few eyebrows were raised when Kabaddi was declared as Bangladesh’s national sport. There was a need to promote a sport that broke with the colonial past and had roots in the country. Ha-du-du, as kabaddi was known, fit that bill.

“This was an easy game to understand, and it was what the farmers played in the villages during festivities. Prizes included cattle, radio, rice and many more. The sport is part of our culture", said Abdul Jalil, the most decorated kabaddi player in Bangladesh.