MILESTONE KABADDI MEDAL A BOOST

When Anbu Navin N. Annadurai first got into kabaddi in 2018, he and his teammates encountered many challenges such as securing venues for practice and a lack of training equipment.

- Kimberly Kwek

But they made do with the circumstances, training on hard surfaces when they did not have enough proper mats. The absence of cushioning often resulted in injuries and abrasions, and stopped them from practising at full intensity.

They were also forced to settle for any available spaces to train, often booking multi-purpose halls designed for basketball or badminton. Sometimes, they even trained in open fields or common outdoor spaces.

But there have been significant improvements since then, noted Anbu, with players now having access to better training facilities at Kranji Recreation Centre, which allowed them to develop their skills more effectively.

The national men’s team started competing internationally in 2023 and on June 16, won their first medal on the international stage after securing a bronze at the Koni Badung Sport Tourism 2024 Indonesia Open International Kabaddi Championships.

The 21-year-old said: “It validated our hard work and dedication throughout our journey in kabaddi.

“For the team, this accomplishment serves as a powerful motivator, boosting morale and highlights our potential on the international stage, inspiring us to set higher goals for future competitions.