India  

Chhattisgarh cop training 'Mallakhamba' to children of Naxal-hit area

Video Credit: ANI - Duration: 03:25s - Published
Chhattisgarh cop training 'Mallakhamba' to children of Naxal-hit area

Chhattisgarh cop training 'Mallakhamba' to children of Naxal-hit area

A Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) constable is providing 'Mallakhamba' training to children in the forests of Abujmarh in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district which is hit by the Naxalite violence.

The tribal population is deprived of basic facilities like water and electricity even today.

Overcoming all obstacles, four children from the district had made it to the final round in 2020 for the selection for a 'Mallakhamba' demonstration in the Japan Olympics, which was scheduled to be held last year but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

CAF constable Manoj Prasad said he learned Mallakhamba in 2016 and has been training children free of cost since then.

Speaking to ANI, Manoj said, "I myself learned Mallkhamba in 2016.

From 2016-2017, I started training children of Naxalite strongholds who study in Pota Cabins.

All children under my tutelage are tribals who were known as 'Abujh'." The coach also informed that four children have made it to the final round for a demonstration of Mallakhamba in the Japan Olympics."These children have a lot of potentials.

All the children here are future Olympiads.

With this dream, I started coaching them for free," Prasad added.

People in Narayanapur have not heard of Mallakhamba before.

But in only two to three years of practice, the children from the region have defeated many of the country's biggest players in Mallakhamba and won many gold medals.

They went to Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa, and many other states to participate in Mallakhamba tournaments from 2019 to 2020.In November 2019, the children won the gold medal by defeating the senior group at the All India level.

In March 2020, they won 8 gold, 3 bronze medals, and 4 girls featured in 'Best of Six' in India Under-14.

"It was very difficult to defeat the Mallakhamba practitioners of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Despite not being able to beat them for 40 years, our children had worked hard day and night along with their studies.

Now they are number one in India", the coach further stated.

Rajesh Korram, a class four student, who hails from Asanar village next to Jungle Orchha, said, "I have been learning Mallakhamba since 2018.

I won the gold medal by defeating my senior player.

I went to Mumbai for the first time on a train.

Life has taken a turn for the better.

I want to win a gold medal in Japan Olympics." Manu Dhruv, another Mallakhamba player, added he won 2 gold medals in Tamil Nadu.

"There is not a good school in our village.

These are Naxalite-affected villages.

We used to climb trees and play Kabaddi.

No one had heard Mallakhamba's name earlier.

I started playing Mallakhamba in 2017, living in a porta cabin.

Initially, I went to play Tamil Nadu and won 2 gold medals there."


You Might Like


๐Ÿ’ก newsR Knowledge: Other News Mentions

Olympic Games Olympic Games Major international multi-sport event

Cancer diagnosis was the biggest shock of my life - Sir Chris Hoy

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy says finding out his cancer was terminal was "the biggest shock" of his life.
BBC Sport

I'm more grateful for each day - Sir Chris Hoy

Six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy tells BBC Breakfast about his life with terminal cancer and the legacy he hopes to leave.
BBC Sport

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu State in southern India

US Election 2024: Kamala Harris' ancestral village in Tamil Nadu offers prayers for her success; WATCH video

With just a few hours to go before the US Presidential elections, special prayers were held for Vice President and Democrat candidate Kamala Harris's victory in..
DNA
Celebrations Erupt in Chennai as Udhayanidhi Stalin Set to Takes Oath as Deputy CM [Video]

Celebrations Erupt in Chennai as Udhayanidhi Stalin Set to Takes Oath as Deputy CM

Celebrations erupted in Chennai as supporters gathered to celebrate Udhayanidhi Stalin's swearing-in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. This pivotal moment for the DMK marks a new chapter in leadership, with Udhayanidhi's growing influence in the party and government. Join us for highlights from the ceremony and the jubilant reactions of supporters as they express their enthusiasm for this significant appointment! #Celebration #UdhayanidhiStalin #DeputyCM #TamilNadu #DMK #Chennai #PoliticalMilestone #Supporters #SwearingInCeremony #TamilNaduPolitics ~HT.178~PR.274~ED.102~GR.121~

Credit: Oneindia    Duration: 04:53Published

Maharashtra Maharashtra State in Western India

SK Verma to be Maharashtra DGP till model code stays in place: EC

Maharashtra government placed DGP Rashmi Shukla on compulsory leave and appointed Sanjay Kumar Verma as the new DGP, following the Election Commission's order...
IndiaTimes

Affordable homes for Marathis, free edu for boys on Uddhav list

At a rally in Kolhapur, Uddhav Thackeray announced that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi returns to power, they will control the prices of essential food items and..
IndiaTimes

It's raining poll goodies in Maharashtra: CM Shinde promises to loosen purse strings further

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, campaigning for the upcoming assembly elections, pledged to expand welfare programs if re-elected. Key promises included increasing..
IndiaTimes

Have sought Sangh help to fight anarchists, vote jihadis: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis revealed he sought help from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to counter what he called 'anarchists and..
IndiaTimes

Meet Sanjay Verma, the new DGP of Maharashtra who replaced Rashmi Shukla

Sanjay Verma is a 1990-batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre who will retire in April 2028.
DNA

Gujarat Gujarat State in western India

Guj cop hit in bid to catch bootleggers, dies

A Gujarat police sub-inspector, Jahid Pathan, was tragically killed during a liquor smuggling intercept operation. While attempting to stop a suspected vehicle..
IndiaTimes

Under-construction bullet train bridge collapses in Gujaratโ€™s Anand, several feared trapped

An under-construction bullet train bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Anand district, trapping workers under the debris. Rescue teams are working to save those..
IndiaTimes

BJP, oppn in slugfest over dip in Maha's share of GDP

Maharashtra's opposition parties criticized the ruling BJP government for a 2% decrease in the state's national GDP share since 2010, attributing it to the BJP's..
IndiaTimes

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train update: Key milestone achieved with completion of 9 river bridges between...

The latest construction is a bridge over the Kharera River in Navsari district in Gujarat. The Kharera bridge is the twelfth completed river bridge of the twenty..
DNA