The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Kabaddi is losing its hold

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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kabaddi is losing its hold

Sarah Fazal

Poor investment and lack of glamour banishing it from youth activities

— FILE PHOTO

GETTING A GRIP: The Amateur Kabaddi Federation is organising a State-level league next month.

BANGALORE: There was a time when cries of “Kabaddi, kabaddi…” could be heard every evening in playgrounds and streets as boys played the traditional Indian sport.

However, with youngsters now attracted to glamorous games like cricket and football, the traditional sport is played by only a handful today.

“Kabaddi, played with passion and high spirits earlier, has deteriorated in standards and very few play it today,” said Ravi Shetty, coach of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India.

Least demanding

Part of the reason why the sport was so popular was that it was financially least demanding, compared to sports like cricket, which require expensive equipment.

“Young people play sports like cricket or badminton because of the manner in which they are promoted, which kabaddi lacks,” said, Shrinivas Raju, national-level kabaddi champion.

“The sport, in fact, sees the over-30s taking more interest in it,” he said.

Gold

Withdrawal of support to the sport through the years is an important factor contributing to its decline, even though the traditional sport brought glory to the country by winning the gold at the South Asian Games 2010 held at Bangladesh.

Training camps

As part of the effort to promote this sport, which has rural origins, the Amateur Kabaddi Federation is organising a State-level league next month.

Three-week training camps are also organised by the federations for people interested in the sport, but lack of finances remains a huge problem.

The Government allots a paltry Rs.125 per person, say federation representatives.

The Mayor Cup Kabaddi Championship, held between April 6 and 10 here, received an overwhelming response from all over the country. This offers a ray of hope for those who still love the old sport.

The Rs. 2 lakh prize money motivated a lot of people to participate in the event.

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