Anthropometric characteristics and Somatotypes in Elite Pro Kabaddi League Players

Introduction: Kabaddi players exhibit diverse body compositions that vary by playing position. Understanding these traits provides valuable insights into their physical profiles and performance potential. The study aimed to examine the anthropometric characteristics and somatotypes of elite professional Indian Kabaddi players and to evaluate the differences in anthropometric traits between defenders and raiders. Method: Twenty male elite Kabaddi players (raiders n = 9, and defenders n = 11) part of the Haryana Steelers pre-season squad during Season-10, participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements included body mass, stature, 8 skinfold sites, 3 girths, and 2 breadths. Somatotypes, body fat percentage, fat mass, and lean body mass were calculated for each participant. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the basic functional status of the athletes. Independent samples t test was used to test for significant differences between raiders and defenders. Results: Significant differences were found between raiders and defenders across seven out of thirty-six variables. Raiders had higher mean values for height [t (18) = 2.71, p = 0.01], leg length [t (18) = 2.20, p = 0.04], height-weight ratio [t (18) = 2.79, p = 0.01], and ectomorph component [t (18) = 2.50, p = 0.02]. In contrast, defenders had significantly higher values for supraspinale skinfolds [t (18) = -2.17, p = 0.04], arm span to height ratio [t (18) = -2.53, p = 0.02], and mesomorph component [t (18) = -2.33, p = 0.03]. The 95% confidence intervals for these differences showed substantial variability across the examined parameters. Conclusion: The study reveals anthropometric and somatotype differences between raiders and defenders in elite Indian Kabaddi players, emphasizing the need for position-specific training programs. These findings provide valuable insights into the physical attributes associated with each position, aiding coaches in optimizing player development and positional assignment while emphasizing the importance of individual variability in training programs.