After Jakarta haul, hope for kurash
Beyond featuring in cultural exchange programmes with some former Soviet Union states, the martial art form of kurash had few takers in India. That could change after a silver and a bronze at the Asian Games.
Like other disciplines not affiliated to the Indian Olympic Association, India’s 14-member kurash squad had to pay for its kits and training in Uzbekistan before coming here. They are now going back with Pincky Balhara and Malaprabha Yallappa Jadhav winning a silver and bronze medal respectively.
For Pincky, neighbours and relatives had to arrange for funds to go to Uzbekistan and for her kits. In Jakarta, union sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore spent an hour watching the Indians in action.
“Rathore Sir met us during the event and promised to give us all support. We are hoping to get the government’s as well as IOA’s recognition soon,” said Ravi Kapoor, secretary-general of the Kurash Association of India (KAI).
“Like many other sport, we too could have faced a cut in our squad for the Games, but the minister allowed all 14 to travel to Jakarta,” he said. “We knew that a lot of questions would have been asked if we did not win a medal here. Now everybody in India knows what kurash is.”
“There is a similarity between kurash and judo, but in terms of excitement, our sport is miles away from judo. Here one fights while standing,” said Kapoor.
Kapoor said he was sure the medals would boost kurash’s prospects in India. “Now, our players won’t be required to spend money from their pockets to participate in the nationals as they would certainly get support from the state and central governments.”
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