Kabaddi is one of the most indigenous games played across India. In northeast, the sport is gaining popularity with government making attempts to revive the sport.
After 15 years of staying away from professional Kabaddi, six teams from Manipur are now gearing up to make a foray at the national and international Kabaddi.
Four men and two women teams from the state have recently participated in the 63rd L. Indrajit Singh Memorial Senior State Kabaddi Championship held under the aegis of Manipur State Kabaddi Association at Sports Authority of India, North East Regional office Indoor Stadium.
President of Manipur State Kabaddi Association (MSKA), Angom Mukundo Singh, said that they are trying hard to promote and develop Kabaddi in the state.
“In Manipur, we are trying hard to promote and develop the kabaddi game. In Asian Games, Beijing, Korea always performs well in Kabadi likewise India can also do it. We have a great potential, World Kabadi Federation has taken initiative to develop and promote this game so, I think it’s a good step. And here in Manipur, we are trying our best to reach at the higher level,” he said.
Kabaddi is being played in Manipur since 1950s. In 1974, there were about 120 kabaddi teams hailing from across Manipur.
The sport was hit by financial crunch and rise in insurgency and hardly any tournament was organised in the last one decade.
Now, the players are enthusiastic to make Manipur proud by winning at the national and international events.
“I wish Manipur Kabaddi Association to organize the events regularly. We also want a coach, who can give us proper training,” said Th. Johnson, a player from SAI-RC.
“Kabaddi is one of our ancestors’ favorite sports. Now, the game has once again being revived and I wish to play it professionally,” said Nilika, another player from Utkal.
Since after it was included as a regular sports discipline in the Asian Games in 1990, Kabaddi now dreams of making it to the Olympic Games.
In India, the introduction of Pro Kabaddi League last year has opened new avenues for Kabaddi players to prove their mettle.