Bbc
Meena (center) hopes to become a professional kabaddi player
Meena’s eyes go from left to right and back again, looking for the ephemeral moment when she can make her move.
She plays in Kabaddi, an Indian contact sport now played in more than 50 countries around the world.
A Kabaddi game is played between two teams, each with seven players. Individuals in turn press themselves in half of the opposition field to label the opponents and return to their own half without being attacked to the ground.
But for Meena, 14, it’s more than winning points. Sport offers an escape from a limited rural life and opens up a world of opportunities.
“It’s different when I play,” she said timidly, fighting to find the words. “At that time, I am not the Meena which is linked to household work, weighed down by pressures and expectations. It’s just me and the opponent … I have the impression of being more powerful than other girls who do not play. “
Meena lives on the outskirts of a small tribal village, Kudoshi, about 230 km from the financial capital of India, Mumbai, where the life of girls traditionally revolves around household chores, marriage and children.
But 15 years ago, a group of teachers from the village school decided that they wanted to give girls more opportunities.
Daji Rajguru founded the club with a group of colleagues to give girls more options in life
“I have a daughter. I want her to achieve things in life, live the best possible life, that is something,” said one of them, Daji Rajguru. “Why can’t girls play Kabaddi and make it a career?”
Thus, he and his colleagues, who had played Kabaddi when they were younger, thought it would be good to teach local girls how to play. The envoy of their savings – 5,000 rupees ($ 60; £ 50) – convinced the school to let them use its land and opened what they believe to be the first Kabaddi club for all the girls in the region.
At first, only two girls, who were school students, joined each other. “Parents were not ready to let their daughters play Kabaddi because it meant spending a lot of time far from their home,” he said. “They also worried about the impact it could have on their daughter’s marriage prospects”, because traditional families would not approve the girls who come out and come back late.
Daji and his colleagues went from door to door reassuring the parents that their daughters would be safe by playing Kabaddi during training sessions before and after school. They reassured them, they would supervise the girls properly and would not let them be distracted by the boys.
The girls of the Kabaddi team train before and after school every day
At the beginning, the teachers picked up the girls at home and deposited them, but as the figures increased, they were no longer able to do so. Now there are about 30 girls in the club and they believe that around 300 have trained with them since they started to train, including Daji’s own girl. Some are starting to play as young as seven years.
Like the rest of the club members, Meena trained for two hours before school and two hours after the end of the lessons. She has to leave the house in Dawn and does not come back before nightfall.
“I leave alone and it’s dark (in the morning). I was afraid that someone could do something to me. My family was not favorable at that time and I am still not satisfied with my choice To become a sportswoman, “she said.
But she perseveres, inspired by the members of the club who have excelled over the years and have joined state teams or local leagues. Siddhi Chalke and Samreen Burandkar were among the first batch of girls who trained at the club for about eight years. Now, at the age of 25, they are players in the professional league and are financially independent.
At first, their families thought that playing Kabaddi was a phase that would pass, and when the women decided to make a career, their parents were not happy. There are still pressure to get married, but at the same time, their families are also proud that women are doing well.
Kabaddi changed the course of the life of Samreen Burandkar and helped her become financially independent
“No one in my family wins as much as I do,” says Samreen. “I now live in a big city and I can make my own choices. Coming from my community, it is difficult for girls to continue what they want. I am only here because of Kabaddi,” she said .
Siddhi plays in the same team as Samreen – their friendship born from Kabaddi. They traveled in India for competitions, winning medals and championships. “I could only do it because of Kabaddi. Otherwise, I would have married and I would have found myself in my husband washing the dishes,” explains Siddhi and they both laugh, apparently relieved that they have escaped this spell.
Excellent in sports in India can also help players find a job in the public sector. The Indian states distribute jobs to high performance in sports, guaranteeing income even after the years of active sport of a player.
Many rural girls take sport with the dream of obtaining financial independence via these jobs. This can also help them get greater respect and a feeling of identity.
“When we started the sports club, no one has imported these girls. They were always secondary citizens at home, in society,” said Vilas Bendre, a young club coach.
“But we have realized that when rural girls climb in their lives through sport, their lives changes considerably. The way they speak, the way they are worn, their lifestyle, everything changes.”
The Kabaddi tournament money price helps finance the club
Even if they have not become professional athletes, many club members saw their confidence grow up and persuaded their family to let them go to university and delay marriage until they are older.
The community has become more accepted too, and when they see girls doing exercise, people no longer hit them.
The club is funded by coaches, cash prices that the team gains in competitions and occasional donations. Most girls come from poor and disadvantaged families and do not have to pay subscription fees.
In addition to training for time, the club organizes and finances residential sports camps in summer, provides food such as eggs, bananas and milk, and often pays for treatment for players’ injuries.
Over time, parents’ fears have been assumed, but criticisms sometimes question the motivations of the coaches. “People say things indirectly like.” Why don’t you train the boys? “,” Said Daji. But he says there are already opportunities for boys, and there is a gap for girls.
“We are not only their coaches,” adds Vilas. “Sometimes we are their parents, guiding them, discipline them, helping them make the right choice.”
And Meena knows the potential of this precious opportunity: “I want to be the best raid and become the captain of the Indian Kabaddi team,” she said, daring to dream of medals, championships and leaving the life of a girl of Ordinary village.