KANCHANPUR: Kanchanpur district is becoming a hub for Kabaddi.

Bhimdatta Municipality in the district alone has more than 100 national and international Kabaddi players.

Most of the players who have received training from the district sports development committee have played matches from the Nepali Army and Nepal Police.

“More than 50 percent of players involved with the departmental teams of the NA and police are from the municipality alone. The municipality is a hub for the sport,” said main coach Bishnu Datta Bhatta.

The municipality-6, 7, 8, and 10 have produced the kabaddi players since 2040 BS, he said. “So far 36 male and female players have participated in SAAF and Asian Games from the municipality alone and over 60 players have played national tournaments.”

Mahakali Kabaddi’s team from the area has retained glory in the sport for decades.

Not only to produce players, but coaches from Kanchanpur have also been getting the responsibility to lead the Nepali Kabaddi.

Bhatta of Bhimdutta has now got the responsibility of the main coach of Kabaddi. “I have taken this great responsibility as opportunity and challenge,” shared Bhatta.

Bhatta, who is active in coaching for two and half decades, shared, “Coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected the sports sector and players.”

Bhatta had represented the country in eleven international competitions as a player. Started playing Kabaddi in 2042 B, Bhatta, has been working as a coach here since 2060 BS.

Saying the number of Kabaddi coaches is very less, he shared that there was a possibility of participating Women’s National Kabaddi Team in the Asian Sports Championship scheduled in 2022.

A modern Kabaddi Training Centre has been constructed here with the support of the Sudurpaschim Province government.

Prior to this, senior coach Tara Singh Bhat had led the national team of Kabaddi. Bhat, a local of Bhimdutta shared that the training was not sufficient for the players for better results.

He opined to conduct a long-term plan and close session training for the players for better results. It is shared that Bhat was the only senior coach for the national team from this area.

International jury member of Kabaddi Ramesh Chandra Ojha argued that the players were found diverted from the sports sector as their employment was not ensured in the sectors.

He also said that the renowned players of the locality were enforced to work as migrant workers in Indian cities for employment.

(Sher Bahadur Singh/RSS)