Haryana: Hub for Indian Kabaddi. Why is it so? Who are the legends?

With Vivo Pro Kabaddi League announcing its latest edition in 2021, all eyes are set on who the latest star will be. Whoever it be, but we cannot ignore the fact that it is always Haryana that produces the star!! Haryana in fact is the hub for Indian Kabaddi. From Anup Kumar, the Asian Games Gold Medalist to Rakesh Kumar, India’s most successful captain, all of these belong to Haryana. The unbreakable duo of Nada and Chhillar too belongs to Haryana. So, why is it that Haryana has become a hub? Here’s a round-up: – 

Readymade Akharas turned to Kabaddi Grounds: – 

For any sport to develop, the infrastructure is a must. The original form of Kabaddi is the one that is played with softened mud. For this, the square required is similar to the one that is required for wrestling. These grounds are developed by crushing down the hardened stone, softening the mud after pounding. Apart from this water, milk, ghee, and camphor are also added to soften and purify the mud. So, after the grounds are used for wrestling, they then turn to playfields for Kabaddi. Here the players also have a gym-like facility for fitness. 

The traditional Gurus of wrestling help these Kabaddi players to maintain diet and fitness. The traditional hammer-like dumbbells and Namaskar squats help the players to get an athlete-like build. The Badam Ragda, Cashew Crush Barfi, and meat-loaded diets help the players to maintain their fitness. So, basically, a grooming structure for players is already present in Haryana. 

Inspiration for the youngsters: – 

For building a sport, inspiration for athletes is a must. This inspiration for the Haryanvi players is no less. From India’s most successful captain Rakesh Kumar to captain cool Anup Kumar, all belong to Haryana. Mohit and Manjeet Chhillar, the stars of Bengaluru Bulls in the PKL also belong to the Haryanvi soil. Apart from this, the Scorpion Kick sensation Jasveer Singh also hails from the same region. Nizampur is one such place in Haryana, which every year produces a truckload of stars. 

Support from the government bodies: – 

Every athlete plays sport for money. This is the same case with Kabaddi players. Kabaddi was first recognized at the international level in 1990. From then onwards, Iran and India have dominated the sport. India in fact is the team that has won all the Asian golds. This “Mitti Ka Khel” also receives several incentives from the Haryana Government. Now with the PKL bringing in more money for the Kabaddi athletes, the sport will bloom more. Players are also recognized with awards such as Arjun Award, Khel Ratna’s, and Padma Awards. This also helps the players financially.