Kabaddi teaches one to swim against the tide

'Kabaddi' - A word I have chanted more times than any other, one that has given me the strength to pull through every situation life has thrown my way. I speak for my fellow kabaddi players when I say, the sport has been a source of reward and a testament to perseverance, grit and hard work that ev­ery kabaddi player in the country and in the world has successfully dealt with. The sport has taught us to swim against the tide no matter what and make every tryst with life, a successful 'raid'.

For every kabaddi player, the field of play ha¬ only been the surface we've played on, but has been a re­flection of life itself. I have encountered my fate here, endured the most shattering blows, celebrated my greatest victory and have also witnessed the glory people yearn for. In a nutshell, the sport has defined every aspect of my identity.

Growing up in a little town called Nizam-pur, where every household swears by at least one kabaddi player in the family, I nev­er felt kabaddi even faced competition from any other sport. To me, kabaddi was the big­gest sport and representing my country, the biggest dream. The game, to me, was an in­spiration- a motivation to dodge all odds, no matter what they are, and embrace the un-foreseen. Even now, with every match I play, kabaddi teaches me a new lesson, not only about the game, but about me as well.

Being the captain of the Indian kabaddi team, I know the story that each and every player in my team has to share; all echoing the 'never say die' spirit- an extension of the essence of the game. A sto­ryteller of sorts, kabaddi has been the stage for many a heart-warming tale, one that everyone can relate to. With Star Sports Pro Kabad­di, we have the opportunity to showcase these stories to a far greater audience.

In a few days, through the league, the sport will re­write the definition of te­nacity, dedication and pas­sion. Being an internation­al league, you will see players like Takamitsu Ko-no, the son of a Japanese priest, Nasir Ali and Waseem Sajj ad, two Pa­kistani Army men playing alongside the most talented players from our country in a league that will travel across India inspiring a whole new generation. With everybody in­volved with Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, work­ing so hard to see the tournament succeed, I am sure the league will positively change the way the way kabaddi is perceived, in the country, and in the world. Through the matches in the tournament, I hope that my team, the Patna Pirates, along with the sup­port of the other seven teams will be able to highlight the spirit of kabaddi.