A Kabaddi player carries the marks of a game that is traditionally played in muddy grounds.
This, however, is set to change with the introduction of Kabaddi mats (synthetic surface).
The Sports Promotion and Education Empowerment (SPEED) programme, under the aegis of the Kozhikode district panchayat, has donated a Rs. 6-lakh Kabaddi mat to the District Sports Council, promising a dirt-free game.
The mat, which was inaugurated by Minister for Sports Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan at a public function at Mananchira Square in Kozhikode last week, is the harbinger of a new era for Kabaddi in the region.
First timeThis is the first time that a Kabaddi mat has been made available to any academy, club, or sports institution in Malabar region, says K.P. Sheeba, chairperson of the district panchayat Education standing committee, which funded the mat under the project SPEED.
The SPEED programme is aimed at promoting the sporting skills of students and improving their physical fitness. “The mat can be used for all district-level Kabaddi championships starting from schools,” says Ms. Sheeba.
Kabbadi, which has received a major boost among players as well as spectators across the country with the live telecast of the Pro Kabaddi League on popular TV channels, will get a “further boost” here with the introduction of the mat, which is mandatory for all standard tournaments, says N. Padmanabhan, secretary of the district Kabaddi association.
“The mat will considerably reduce injury to players besides making the game more attractive,” says Mr. Padmanabhan.
The new facility, according to him, will also help in the overall performance of players. “I am sure the district will start winning major tournaments very soon,” he says.
In Kerala, Kabaddi was a game chiefly confined to some parts of Kasaragod district until eight years ago. But the scenario has changed dramatically of late, says Kabaddi coach and umpire P. Jijesh. The game has taken a major stride in the Malabar region recently.
According to him, Kozhikode is one of the best four teams in the State now. “That we now have a Kabaddi mat to play and practise is definitely going to make a big difference in the coming years,” says Mr. Jijesh.
The ever increasing popularity of Kabaddi in the entire region also makes the district sport council, which is collaborating with the district panchayat in implementing SPEED, excited about the future of the game.
It’s not small thing that a recent district-level Kabaddi tournament had as many as 400 participants in Kozhikode, says district president of the council K.J. Mathai.
“There is no doubt that the future is bright for the game in the State. The introduction of advanced synthetic surface will make it even brighter,” he says.
