Khelo India Beach Games 2025: Unique mallakhamb academy in remote Bastar, its superstar coach & athlete
Mallakhamb is one of the oldest traditional sports in India and it is alive and kicking in the heart of Chhattisgarh's Bastar district. If there is a classic case study to establish the transformative power of sports and its social impact, here's the story of Manoj Kumar and his protege Rakesh Kumar Varda.
Manoj Prasad is a living example of how sports can bring about social change in troubled Naxal-infested regions of central India. Prasad, an STF (Special Task Force) officer, runs the Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy in Narayanpur.
Uniquely, chirldren from tribal communities are enrolled here and Prasad is like a father figure to them. He takes care of all expenses from accommodation to meals and equipment for training.
Rakesh, one Prasad's wards, excelled in mallakhamb, a non-medal sport at the first Khelo India Beach Games underway here. At KIBG, 10 trainees of Prasad's Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy, which was established in 2017, took part. For most of them from economically and socially marginalized backgrounds, Diu has been a window to the world.
Fifteen-year-old Rakesh has been outstanding at KIBG. He had the credentials to do well and he did not fail. Rakesh won a gold medal at the Khelo India Beach Games. Since mallakhamb is a demonstration sport, this medal did not count in the overall tally but it was an endorsement of an athlete's excellence in a particular sport.
Rakesh hails from the tribal village of Kutul in the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur district. He is a member of the tribal community and is the only youngster from his area to play mallakhamb. Rakesh has won over 30 medals at national and state-level competitions.
Recently, Rakesh won four medals (one silver and three bronze) at the Khelo India Youth Games held in Bihar. Rakesh began practicing Mallakhamb at the age of eight. Credit for introducing him to the sport solely goes to his coach, Manoj Prasad.
Rakesh's achievemnets speak volumes. In 2022, he set a Limca Book of Records entry for the longest handstand (1 minute and 6 seconds) on a Mallakhamb pole at the All India Handstand Championship. In 2023, he and his team from the Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy won India's Got Talent Season 10.
Rakesh has also won a bronze at the Khelo India Youth Games in Panchkula, a bronze at the National Games in Gujarat, a gold, silver, and two bronze medals at the Khelo India Youth Games in Ujjain and a bronze at the National Games in Goa.
Rakesh has faced personal tragedy too. Just two days after returning from the Gujarat National Games, his mother passed away. However, due to lack of communication in his remote village , he received the news only after two days. Speaking to SAI Media, Rakesh said, 'My goal is to work towards the development of my region and to pass on the culture of my ancestors to future generations.'
But all credit to Manoj Prasad for remaining a strong force in a sport that does not make mainstream news. 'Fulfilling the daily needs of 25 children is not an easy task but seeing the results, senior police and administrative officials living in my area have started helping wholeheartedly for some time now. Along with this, many local people have also come forward to help them. In this, the secretary of Chhattisgarh Malkhamb Sangh, Rajkumar Sharma, has a special contribution and is always willing to help us,' Prasad told SAI Media.
'I bring tribal children between 5-15 years from different areas and take care of their education and sports needs at the academy. These children come from completely illiterate families with no source of income. I want to help them enter the mainstream on the basis of their abilities so they can secure jobs and lead better lives. I'm all they have,' Prasad, a former national level sprinter, said on an emotional note.
Prasad concluded by saying, 'The Khelo India Beach Games is a great initiative. I was happy to see Mallakhamb included in it. Now that the Government of India has announced the organization of Tribal Games, we are very excited. Bringing tribal communities into the mainstream is essential if India is to become a global power—and I believe it can be done through the transformative power of sports.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Meghalaya unveils ‘Mission Clean Shillong '27' ahead of Nat'l Games
1 2 Shillong: With Meghalaya to host the next National Games, the state govt has launched an ambitious new campaign — Mission Clean Shillong 2027 — aimed at transforming the state capital into one of India's cleanest cities. The two-year initiative, spearheaded by CM Conrad K Sangma, calls for collective action to achieve 'litter-free streets, pristine waters, and pure air'. The timing of the campaign is crucial, as Shillong is set to host thousands of athletes and tourists for the National Games. "We have the cleanest river and the cleanest village, why not the cleanest cities too?" the CM asked, framing the mission as a natural extension of Meghalaya's legacy of environmental stewardship. "A community-first approach unlike previous top-down programmes, the campaign emphasises participatory governance. Localities will lead monthly clean-up drives, receive incentives for waste segregation, and compete for the 'Cleanest Locality' title," an official statement said. The draft campaign document is open to public feedback until June 25. Citizens, civil society organizations, and local leaders have been invited to contribute suggestions via email, phone, or by visiting the Shillong Municipal Board office. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Suruchi Phogat sticks to her simple formula to stay world class
With three gold medals and a bronze in the four events that she competed in the last two World Cups in Buenos Aires and Lima, Suruchi Phogat is easily the golden girl of Indian shooting at the moment. As the Indian team was getting ready to leave for the World Cup in Munich, Germany, and at the launch of the logo of the Shooting League of India (SLI) at the Dr. Karni Singh Range in Tughlakabad, Suruchi said that she would continue to aim to be at her best, and not worry about the scores. Cheerful and soft spoken, but with a clear mind, the 19-year-old revealed that she does not try hard to shoot better scores but does everything possible to shoot at her best in every event she competes. 'From the national trials, National championships, National Games, to the trials again, and now in World Cups, the advice by coach Suresh Singh has worked very well for me. I believe that the better scores would happen along the way, if I stick to the right process,' said Suruchi, at ease in keeping things simple. She did recall the advice by seasoned shooter Jitu Rai, who is now with the Indian team as coach, about a few finer points that has helped her be at her best, her normal self, in international competitions. 'I am happy to have won three gold medals so far. I want to win medals in Munich. The World champonships later in the season, is bigger and then there is the Asian Championship also. I also want to do well in the World Cup Finals, as my name has already been confirmed,' said Suruchi, quite pleased to be adding to her international exposure. Every shooter would love to know the secrets of Suruchi to be so remarkably consistent in the international arena, and her younger brother Nishant is no exception. 'He also shoots air pistol. He shoots 580 in practice. He does want to know what I do to win all these gold medals. I just tell him that when he gets to that level, it would happen on its own for him also,' said Suruchi. A first year student of B.A., Suruchi plans to move to the Chandigarh University for the great support it extends to sportspersons. 'I want to compete in the World University championships,' said Suruchi, content to stick to the air pistol, and not venture into the world of 25-metre sports pistol. 'There is so much to learn and achieve in air pistol. I want to stay focused on it, without complicating matters with another event, for now,' she added. If simplicity in character, manner and style is the supreme excellence, the cheerful Suruchi is a classic example. Her beaming face with the charming smile is bound to be seen more often as Suruchi steps out to show her prowess in the international arena.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- India Gazette
Asian Athletics Championship: India's Sachin fights his way to silver; Pakistan's Arshad takes gold in men's javelin
Gumi [South Korea], May 31 (ANI): India's Sachin Yadav put in his best effort and gave Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem a run for his money; however, even with his top draw attempt, he bagged a silver while Pakistan's javelin ace walked away with the gold on Saturday at the Asian Athletics Championship. Sachin was a whisker away from ending Arshad's dominance but fell marginally short by 1.24m and settled for a silver medal in the men's javelin throw event. Arshad raced away with the gold after sending his javelin to a distance of 86.40m. Sachin, who had stayed outside the medal race for the majority of the event, notched up 85.16m, his personal best, to walk away with the second-placed finish. Sachin delivered his previous best of 84.39m at the National Games earlier this year, which helped him claim gold. Sachin's compatriot, Yashvir Singh, cracked his personal best attempt with a throw of 82.57m and finished in the fifth position. India's javelin spearhead Neeraj Chopra, who set India's national record of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League earlier this month, did not participate in Gumi. In the men's 200m final, Animesh Kujur shattered the national record after clocking 20.32 seconds to sprint towards the bronze. The Indian athlete set the previous national mark at 20.40s during the Federation Cup earlier this year. Animesh Kujur became just the second Indian to reach the 200m podium at the Asian Athletics Championships after Dharambir Singh's 2015 feat. Japan's Towa Uzawa breezed past to the gold medal with a championship record of 20.12s, while Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz Atafi walked away with a silver after giving his personal best of 20.31s. India's hopes in the women's 200m final were tossed aside after Jyothi Yarraji (23.47) and Nithya Gandhe (23.90) finished fifth and seventh, respectively. China's Chen Yujie sprinted to the gold with a 22.97s run. (ANI)
