In standard competitive kabaddi, how many players are there in one team on the court during play?

Introduction / Context:
Kabaddi is a popular contact team sport in South Asia and has gained international recognition through competitions such as the Pro Kabaddi League and the Asian Games. This question checks a basic rule of the game, namely the number of players each team fields on the court at a time. Understanding such fundamental rules is important for general sports awareness.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sport under discussion is kabaddi.
• The question is specifically about the number of players in one team on the court, not the size of the squad.
• Options suggest 3, 7, 5 or 9 players.
• Standard competitive kabaddi rules are assumed.

Concept / Approach:
In formal kabaddi, whether in national tournaments or leagues, each team has seven players on the court at the start of play, with additional substitutes available off the court. The game is played on a rectangular mat where one raider from the attacking side crosses into the opponents half and attempts to tag defenders before returning safely. Knowing the basic team size is essential for interpreting match situations and rules.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the standard kabaddi team lineup as shown in televised matches and rule books.Step 2: Notice that there are always seven active players from each team on the court when the match begins, unless some have been put out during play.Step 3: Compare this with the options. Three and five players would make the game too small and are not used in official formats. Nine players on court would overcrowd the small kabaddi mat.Step 4: Seven players per side fits both the visual impression of professional matches and the official rules of the game.Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is 7.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by thinking of Pro Kabaddi League broadcasts where the lineup graphics show seven starting players and a bench of substitutes. Asian Games rule summaries also specify seven players per side with up to five substitutes. Even when players are revived or put out, the maximum number allowed on court for one team at any given time remains seven. This consistent figure across sources confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, 3, and option C, 5, would not provide enough defenders to create the strategic patterns typical of kabaddi. These numbers do not match standard rules. Option D, 9, exceeds the regulated limit and would make it difficult to move on the mat. None of these numbers are used in official kabaddi formats.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the number of players on the court with the total squad size or to mix up kabaddi with other sports such as basketball or volleyball, which have different team sizes. Another pitfall is estimating based on memory of informal local matches that might not strictly follow official rules. For exams, always rely on the formal rule: seven players on court per team.

Final Answer:
In competitive kabaddi there are 7 players on the court for each team.