Front Runner

From ‘Captain Cool’ to head coach, Anup Kumar has attained glorious heights in the sports of kabaddi. We talk to him about his greatest achievements and his life after retirement.

- Mrinalini Singh

You are one of the most accomplished players in kabaddi, how did you end up in such an offbeat and unconventional sport?

As a child, I enjoyed playing kabaddi during my spare time in my school days. I used to play for the school level and inter-village competitions in my village, Palra. It was a popular sport in my village, and I picked it up from there. I started out in my school days but began taking the sport seriously at the age of 17. When I look back, kabaddi is definitely a part of my identity now and I owe a lot to the sport.

Famously known as the ‘Bonus ka Badshah’, you have innumerable victory stories attached to your name. Is there a distinct memory that you will never forget?

Kabaddi has given me everything I could have ever wished for. More than the accolades and accomplishments, what matters to me is the respect, support, and admiration of all the people. But, if I have to mention a distinct moment, it has to be winning the Arjuna Award. It was a very special moment for me to be bestowed with this honour by the President of India. My mother had accompanied me to the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the ceremony. This is the highest honour for any sportsman and being recognised for my contribution to the sport is very special. After receiving the award, when I went back, I will never forget the grand welcome I received from the people in my village. There was a huge procession with at least 15,000 - 20,000 people. I cannot put into words the kind of happiness you feel when you experience the love of so many people. It was definitely one of the most beautiful memories of my life which I will cherish forever.

If we talk about success, we cannot miss out on the failures. So, what challenges did you come across while playing the sport?