Jaipur, Aug 4 (IANS) | Ajay Thakur, 35, a Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee, talks about his sporting journey on SportsTiger’s exclusive interview series Mission Gold, saying that he still looks forward to representing his country at the Olympics. The Indian Kabaddi captain grew up in the sporting environment and knew that he had to fulfill his father’s dream of representing the country at the international level.
Ajay said, “Kabaddi was recognized internationally even before I was born and my father knew about the sports culture. As the job quota was fixed according to the level at which you play. We Belonging to a middle class family and it was our dream to get a good and secure job. So I started playing sports to get a job from the quota.”
He said, “During this journey my passion for Kabaddi grew so much that I just wanted to play the game. I got job offers from Indian Army, ONGC and others but I declined them because I wanted to reach that level in Kabaddi. Wanted where I could become an Arjuna Award winner.” The Pro-Kabaddi League was a huge hit from the very first season and the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup winners did not hold back in praising the Pro-Kabaddi League as it has helped in bringing recognition to the game as well as the players. Regarding this, he said, “The standard of Kabaddi that we know today and the players who are recognized today in the world, it has been possible only because of the Pro-Kabaddi League. We also played at the international level before the Pro-Kabaddi League. And people were completely ignorant about us and the game but now when we go to any corner of the country people recognize us and it is because of the league.”
He further said, “Through Pro-Kabaddi League, players get many opportunities. But earlier people used to take Kabaddi as a local sport, but now people ask us to play in Pro-Kabaddi League because they give us so much. Love watching him play at a high level and know that whoever plays in the Pro Kabaddi league is a top class Kabaddi player.”
Ajay said, “The closure of the gym had a great impact on our fitness, the grounds were also closed and this was the biggest problem for a player. Our food is usually very heavy and most of us players have gained weight. I Was on my police duty and was on the front line during this period, which was a bit difficult to handle. But now we are slowly getting back our form and working on our fitness.
The 2014 Asian Games gold medalist said players in kabaddi have contact with each other and, therefore, are more likely to get infected. The association and management are in regular touch with the players, checking their fitness levels and recently they have also organized online classes. They will resume competitions as soon as they come to know that the situation in Kovid is improving.
He said, “The players representing their countries in Tokyo Olympics are the best in their sport and the whole nation is expecting medals from them. I have high hopes from Bajrang Punia and he will definitely bring gold medals for India. He I have close friends and we are in constant touch. I have attended several camps with him and after seeing his hard work and dedication, I am sure he will win the gold medal.” After making every effort in the sport, Ajay wants to see Kabaddi in the Olympics. He concluded by saying, “I think Kabaddi already has bigger competitions than Commonwealth Games. We compete in Asian Games and there is Kabaddi World Cup too, but recognizing Kabaddi as an Olympic sport is still We have a dream. But with the pace at which kabaddi is growing, I think the dream will come true very soon.”
(Disclaimer: This news has been published directly from news agency’s Syndicate feed. It has not been edited by AnyTV News team.)