Promotion is the Key

While the Indian team WAS THE CYNOSURE, the third World Cup gave exposure to a number of national teams like Australia, the United States of America and Kenya. The Asian teams, Republic of Korea, Iran, Japan, Bangladesh and Thailand, showed they have the wherewithal to advance and pose a challenge to India in the future at least in the continental games.

- G. Viswanath

It was the morning after the men in blue had competed in the final of the World Cup —promoted with the catch-line, ‘Ready to Raid’— with terrific passion and fierce determination to become the undisputed champions. A handful of players from the Indian team were taking the first flight out of Ahmedabad, the venue of the World Cup. Skipper Anup Kumar, Nitin Tomar and Surjeet looked bleary-eyed; the team must have celebrated its victory well into the wee hours. The Indian kabaddi players — seen live in action, thanks to Star Sports,which broadcast all the 33 matches of the World Cup — have to some extent become visible in public; at least a few people recognised Anup Kumar and requested him for selfies, which the player readily obliged. However, it was not the case with Tomar, who had played a big part by winning super raid points as a substitute, or the confident defender Surjeet.

The scene at Ahmedabad’s domestic airport, nevertheless,was a far cry from what one might imagine it would be if the Indian cricket team were there. None of the kabaddi players was mobbed. The players just stood in the queue when the traffic officer of Jet Air reminded Anup Kumar that boarding for New Delhi had already commenced.

THOUGH THERE WAS NO CASH prize for winning the World Cup, the happiness among the three members of the World Cup-winning Indian team was palpable. The scene at the departure lounge of the airport, however, did not reflect the belief held by many that post Pro-Kabbadi League (PKL) India’s kabaddi players are modern sports heroes. What an irony that Anup Kumar had ended his post World Cup final press conference, saying: “Now we will be recognised as World Champions.”