Kabaddi, anyone for fitness challenge?
SCHOOLS IN DUBAI COMPETE IN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT’S RURAL SPORT AS PART OF CITY’S 30-DAY HEALTH DRIVE
Schools have accepted the month-long Dubai Fitness Challenge, but with a twist. They are competing in Kabaddi League 2.
The first match was held on Saturday at Indian High School (IHS) in Dubai between The Elite English School and IHS, which is organising the league. All matches will be played on IHS grounds and there will be days for parents and staff to participate as well.
Kabaddi is a traditional rural sport popular in the Indian subcontinent. The objective is to enter the opponents half of the court, tag their players and successfully return – while holding breath and chanting ‘kabaddi’ repeatedly.
The first Kabaddi League, also organised and hosted by IHS, lasted only two days last February. The idea for the league was born during the previous Dubai Fitness Challenge in 2017, when Dr Abdullah Al Karam, director general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), played a round of kabaddi with IHS staff.
Guests of honour
The League 2 started with an opening ceremony attended by Dr Al Karam himself and Vipul, consul general of India in Dubai as guests of honour.
The event marked the start of IHS’s participation in Dubai Fitness Challenge, a citywide initiative for all residents and visitors to commit to 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days. The initiative started on Friday and will last till November 24.
Before the matches, which also included two teams from the Indian consulate competing against each other, students performed Zumba and danced on trailer trucks parked in the sports field, meant to create the rural ambience associated with kabaddi.
The guests of honour then interacted with the students, encouraging ■ ■ them for the matches.
Dr Al Karam told Gulf News that the league was unique in the sense that it was trying to promote the uncommon sport of kabaddi among youth in Dubai.
“It’s not only for the students, but [the league] will also be involving the parents, the teachers and school bus drivers. So it’s taking on board more people.
“And I think now kabaddi, which is played in India, is coming to life here too. So this league will involve more people and different experiences for Dubai Fitness Challenge,” he said.
Dr Ashok Kumar, CEO of IHS, said: “We are extremely delighted that we could bring kabaddi back to the arena during this Dubai Fitness Challenge. Kabaddi League 2 is bigger and better as the matches will be played for 30 days at a stretch by schools from all across the UAE. It is a great platform where students, parents and staff can enjoy an Indian rural game and same time stay fit.”
Grade 12 student Ashik Abdul Rahman, one of the IHS kabaddi players, said besides kabaddi he will be doing daily exercises for Dubai Fitness Challenge, such as circuit training and Zumba.
“Fitness is important because it’s good for the health, and health is very important for you. Children and adults both need to be active to be fit,” Abdul Rahman said. at the