Question

kabaddi players rub their hands with soil before the game starts. why?

Answer 1

To keep hands dry as soil will absorb the moisture.To increase the roughness of the hands.

Both these phenomenon will increase the friction between hands and the opponent's body, thus be better able to stop them.

Answer 2

to keep the hands dry as soil will absorb the moisture and  provide a better grip of their opponent which increases the friction between the hands and the opponent's body