GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, JUNE 7
Prerna Jan Sahyog Foundation, an NGO working for women empowerment, education and sports, on Tuesday announced that it will host the first-ever national level women’s kabaddi league in Gujarat in September.
Foundation president Anil Sharma said, “The sports programs organized by the Foundation have proven to be an effective strategy in building confidence, leadership skills, and team spirit. Besides, sports plays an integral part in improving the health of girls. The sportsmanship helps young athletes to build community engagements. Over the years the Foundation has successfully helped many skilled athletes to make sports, including Kabbadi, a viable career option.”
- The national level event will be held from September 24 to 30 in Ahmedabad
- 8 teams will play 7 matches each at Gujarat University grounds from 7 pm to 9 pm
- Apart from trophies to first three winning teams, the best raider and the defender, will also get cash prize worth Rs 10 lakh
“As a step towards women empowerment, Prerna Jan Sahyog Foundation, Ahmedabad will host the first-ever national level women’s kabaddi league in Gujarat. The event will be held from September 24 to 30 at Gujarat University grounds. Eight teams will play seven matches each between 7 pm and 9 pm with 32 total matches,” Anil Sharma added.
Ruzan Khambhata, founder of Wajra O’Force Empowerment Foundation, who herself was a kabbadi player during her college days, said, “We have to change the mindset of the society that girls have to do household chores, including helping moms in cooking, while boys have to play games out in the grounds. Sports play a major part in building physical and mental wellbeing of young girls, making them more confident to face the outer world at a young age. Unlike other games like badminton which needs expensive kits, kabaddi is non-expensive and can be played by all. Through this event we are targeting girls studying in civic schools in rural Gujarat to make kabaddi as a career. It will help them to sustain economically and also support their family.”
About the selection process of players, Sanjay Kumar Patel, National Kabbadi player and one of the organisers, said: “Now, the registrations open for the national Kabaddi players from major states like Haryana, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab. In Gujarat, we will conduct trials at district levels to select probable players. All the selected players will go under the hammer like IPL at the auctions and we believe that this auction will witness some interesting bidding wars. This will lead to the creation of new team squads and an increased level of competition in the upcoming tournament.”
When asked about the trophies and the cash component, Patel said, “Apart from trophies to first three winning teams, the best raider and the defender, will also get cash prize worth Rs 10 lakh. We will also impart training to the wannabe players and will work in tandem with the government authorities for their future career growth. We hope to create two kabaddi teams from this auction.”
Another national player from Gujarat Kiran Parmar was also present at the event.
