The Forgotten Glory !

April 12th, will go down in memory of most of us as a day when one of India's most hyped sports women had become the second wife of 'Doorsa' boy of Pakistan. This galmourous marraige with 'Haq Mehr' (dower money)of 61 lakhs has made it to the front, back and centre pages of newspapers, televisions channels would have crackled this as the breaking news of the day. In admist of this hype somewhere in the heart of Punjab Indian's most reliable sport was scripting history silently. Generations or to be specific sports enthusiats like me will remember this day for precisely this reason. The man's game as we call it in our villages - 'Kabbadi', yet again was at the centre in pinning the smiles back. World Champions we are !!

Since time immemorial we have been good at this one beast of a game where your acumen, judgement, speed & team work are put to test. This time it in the form of World Cup we were challenged. Were we ? Thrasing the finalists Pakistan mercilessly, 58-24, India had won the first edition of the Kabaddi World Cup. The final of this 10-day tournament was played at jam-packed floodlit Guru Nanak Stadium in Punjab where still the spirit and respect for this game remains untampered. Bring them on, I say !! It is one sport in which the whole world will take ages to catch up and i have every reason to belive seeing the scorelines throughout the championship.

A poke -- These gentle warriors don't even get a mentioning in the national newspapers leave making it as breaking news in television channels. Media needs glamour and not substance - Examplified. I as a sports lover am saddened to see that Indian's most respected news (sports) publishers NDTV and ESPN STAR didn't take it upon themselves to bring this mega event to the masses. The traditional game had long lost its battle against India's heart trob-Cricket, and a chance to revive it was eaten away by IPL coverage and marraiges. May be some of my Indian brothers and sisters who are after hype will soon realise it to be China - The Manipulated destination.

This event had participation from Britain, USA, Pakistan, Iran, Italy, Canada and Australia. In the semi-finals, India defeated Canada by 57-36 while Pakistan defeated Italy by 57-33 and made their grand entry into the finals. India - Pakistan finals are special, even more because it is Kabbadi - richest and oldest sport played in the now divided Punjab. Indians holding the cup and eating into all the accolades and trophies on the final day at cermony shows the mere domination. Bravo Bravo !!!

Take a bow Punjab govertment for the efforts you have churned out in reviving this special sport. I sincerely hope that this will give enough fillip to the sport and to players. 1 Crore price money on a sport that lacks 'glamour' and 'hype' is a worthy investment and history will applaud your efforts. Thanks Kabbadi - for reminding me that we are world beaters ! Being world champion is a matter of pride and i salute you warriors in making me proud !! Challenging the world -- Kabbadi, Kabbadi, Kabbadi.... ;)