Ancient Indian game a hit at Cal State

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 27, 2005 | by Brian Foley, STAFF WRITER

HAYWARD -- Gurtej Singh played one game of kabaddi and never played again.

He recalled injuring his foot during his first stab at it in 1979 when he was playing for the pride of Lilain, a village in the Ludhiana district of India's Punjab region.

"People do get hurt playing it," he said. "Now I'm an older man, and I can play but it takes unique physical ability, quickness and strength."

Kabaddi came to California State University, East Bay's football stadium Saturday, drawing thousands of fans for an afternoon of sport and food. Athletes trekked from Germany, Canada and India, among other countries, to compete.

The game is roughly 500 years old and has never really evolved from when it first started among rural tribes, said Harpal Mann of the Amritsar Times, a Punjabi newspaper based in San Jose.

"It's a physically challenging sport," he said. "It comes from the most physical region in India. The rest of India doesn't even know about the game."

In the game, a "raider" of one team runs after a group of "stoppers" on the opposing team and tries to tag one. Then the raider has to run back to a "gateline" while the tagged stopper tries to tackle him before getting there. Points are awarded to those successful.

Kabaddi is a sport of unpaid players, as every young man in the region is expected to compete for his locale's dignity.

"There is pride involved," said Mann. "There are teams that have formed in Sacramento, San Jose and Hayward. It's the same in Punjab."

Punjab makes up the northwest region of India, home to almost 25 million people. Because agriculture -- especially the growing of wheat -- dominates Punjab, children there grow up to be very fit.

"It's where India's athletes come from," Mann said.

The eight-hour showcase was the first in Hayward, though kabaddi events often take place around the Bay Area. Mann said San Jose's kabaddi festival draws 20,000 people.

Along with the entertainment, spectators enjoyed authentic Indian food like fried fish and garbanzo beans with curry. Red and green sauces were provided to give it an extra-spicy kick.

At one end of the field, children mimicked the athletes. Mann said events like these introduce cultural roots to Indians who were born in the United States.

"They grow up knowing the language but they can't read and write it," he said. "Kids who don't know the sport can come here and learn about it."

However, kabaddi is a competition for men, according to Jasjeet Singh, who said he grew up playing water polo instead.

"This is a man's game," he said. "Women don't have any interest. If you don't play, you're not going to be into it."