Kabaddi Faces Challenges from Cricket and Mobile Phones, Says International Referee and KP Kabaddi Association Secretary
In a recent interview, Kabaddi player and International Referee, Syed Sultan Bacha, also known as Sultan Bari, and the Secretary of the Kabaddi Association in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, discussed the challenges faced by traditional Kabaddi and its decline in popularity. Sultan Bari highlighted that the game of cricket and excessive mobile phone usage have contributed to the decline in interest among the youth for power Kabaddi, a traditional sport of the Pakhtun nation.
According to Sultan Bari, Kabaddi's popularity in Punjab is
far superior to that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as it is widely played and
supported in Punjab. Fans actively engage with the sport, providing valuable
support to the players.
Sultan Bari acknowledged that several years ago, Kabaddi was
on the brink of fading away in the region. However, recent efforts have been
made to promote the sport. Despite limited resources and various challenges,
Kabaddi, including Asian and Circle styles, is gaining recognition.
Sultan Bari also highlighted the emergence of new players
through inter-divisional and All-Pakistan U-23 Kabaddi competitions since 2019.
He expressed pride in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's representation in Asian Games, with three players from the
region, thanks to the commendable efforts of Malik Riaz in Bannu.
The secretary of the Kabaddi Association emphasized that
Kabaddi is not being played in schools due to the prevalence of cricket and the
distraction of mobile phones. To counter this, efforts are underway to
establish Kabaddi teams in colleges and conduct Asian style Kabaddi
competitions for both boys and girls.
Sultan Bari suggested that promoting Kabaddi requires the
establishment of Asian and Circle style Kabaddi academies in different
districts of the province under the supervision of DSO and RSO. This would help
in recruiting and nurturing new players and organizing tournaments.
In conclusion, Sultan Bari mentioned the positive growth of
Kabaddi in Peshawar, with the number of teams increasing from four to twelve in
recent years. However, he highlighted the need for more financial support to
expand and promote Kabaddi across the thirty-five districts of the province
effectively.
#Kabaddi #Cricket #YouthSports #KhyberPakhtunkhwa
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