Kabaddi will challenge more popular games, says Patna captain

Patna: For a sport which has often been bereft of limelight, kabaddi is all set to rival the more popular games of the country, believes India and Patna Pirates captain Rakesh Kumar.
“Be it in Mumbai, Kolkata or Delhi, the people are turning up in hordes to watch the games. It is great to see so much of interest from them. It won’t be long before kabaddi, too, makes it to the top as one of India’s favourite sports,” said Kumar.
With the Pro-Kabaddi League having already made quite a splash in its first season, Kumar feels the game has the right amount of adrenaline rush to attract youngsters. “The Pro-Kabaddi League has caught the imagination of people throughout the country. It is very interesting and has mass appeal. Not only in the rural areas but kabaddi has managed to strike a chord in the urban areas, too, especially with the youngsters, since it involves a heavy dose of athleticism and mental alertness,” asserted Kumar.
Stressing on the low-cost aspect of the sport, the Asian Games gold medalist said, “Kabaddi requires very little money and can be pursued by anyone. That’s why most players emerge from the rural parts of the country. However, the credit goes to the Pro-Kabaddi League for taking the game to a new height. Attracting audience and generating interest in the cities will make a huge difference to the game.”
Kumar, who was conferred with the Arjuna award in 2011, is happy that women, too, will be a part of the league from the second edition. “With the girls set to participate next year, it is the best thing that could have happened to kabaddi. They should not be considered inferior. Their gold medal win at the Asian Indoor games in 2013 was terrific.”
Having idolized his elder brother in formative years, Kumar was introduced to the game quite early as that was the only sport played in his village Nizampur, near New Delhi. “My elder brother used to play kabaddi in school. He was my inspiration. I developed an attachment to the sport because in our village, the kids used to play kabaddi only. We had a ground where 60-70 children would play together.”
Turning pro in 1996, Kumar fondly recalled his days of struggle. “I started to play for my school and would often play with the seniors. My elder brother could not continue as he decided to tend to my father whose health took a beating at that time but he provided me with full support to achieve my dream.”
With the rules of the game undergoing minor changes with the introduction of the bonus point and the 30-second rule, Kumar feels kabaddi has only got better and sharper.
Often referred to as ‘Raider Kumar’ within the fraternity, the national skipper admits to enjoying the nickname. “Yes, it is something I cherish but I realize with such names come responsibility to perform. I have always tried to maintain my fitness level and work hard, so that I never let the followers of the game down.”
An ardent admirer of Lionel Messi, Kumar enjoys watching the Argentine’s sublime skills and hopes the Barcelona forward remains injury free. “I saw how Neymar got injured in the World Cup. It’s the worst possible thing that can happen to an athlete,” he remarked.
Having endured several heartbreaks because of injuries in his long career, the 32-year-old knows how it feels like if you miss the action because of injury.