MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL-STUDIES ON INDIAN NATIONAL KABADDI PLAYERS

Twenty-five national kabaddi players (Asiad gold medallists 1990), mea n age 27.91 years, who attended a national camp at the Sports Authorit y of India, Bangalore before the Beijing Asian Games in 1990, were inv estigated for their physical characteristics, body fat, lean body mass (LBM) and somatotype. The physiological characteristics assessed incl uded back strength, maximum oxygen uptake capacity and anaerobic capac ity (oxygen debt) and related cardiorespiratory parameters (oxygen pul se, breathing equivalent, maximum pulmonary ventilation, maximum heart rate). Body fat was calculated from skinfold thicknesses taken at fou r different sites, using Harpenden skinfold calipers. An exercise Lest (graded protocol) was performed on a bicycle ergometer (ER-900) using a computerized EOS Sprint (Jaeger, West Germany). The mean(s.d.) perc entage body fat (17.56(3.48)) of kabaddi players was found to be highe r than normal sedentary people. Their physique was found to be endomor phic mesomorph (3.8-5.2-1.7). Mean(s.d.) back strength, maximum oxygen uptake capacity (VO2max) and oxygen debt were found to be 162.6(18.08 ) kg, 42.6(4.91) ml kg(-1) min(-1) and 5.02(1.29) litre respectively. Physical characteristics, percentage body fat, somatotype, maximum oxy gen uptake capacity and anaerobic capacity (oxygen debt) and other car diorespiratory parameters were compared with other national counterpar ts. Present data are comparable with data for judo, wrestling and weig htlifting. Since no such study has been conducted on international cou nterparts, these data could not be compared. These data may act as a g uideline in the selection of future kabaddi players and to attain the physiological status comparable to the present gold medallists.