With a glitzy makeover, kabaddi set to go live

“I’ve never seen anything like this for kabaddi,” he says, barely able to describe his excitement.

The veteran with 14 years’ worth of experience with two World Cup and Asian Games victories to boot, however, is quick to assert that the impressive effects will in no way distract his lot when the inaugural Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) kicks off on Saturday with hosts U Mumba taking on Jaipur’s Pink Panthers.

With kabaddi all set to receive a dramatic face-lift over the next few weeks, starting here in Mumbai, the NSCI is not surprisingly a hotbed of activity on the eve of opening day.

Most of the movement involves mounting each of the 14 cameras at their designated areas. Some others, meanwhile, are focused on the long metal panels, littered with floodlights, being hoisted towards the roof. Testing procedures for each bulb draws recognition toward the red mat that will serve as the court for the seven matches hosted in the city.

“This is the epicenter of the entire stadium. All the lights, all the sounds, everything will support what’s happening on the court,” says Charu Sharma, managing director of the organising group.

Eleven anchors

Sets of crew members busy themselves in putting up the commentary box, while another group works on various other audio-visual equipment. Amid all the hustle-bustle, a conspicuous group gathers on one of the installed bleachers. Eleven anchors have been picked to compere and engage the audience during each match. For most of them, just as for Kumar, even the pre-tournament glitz has been exhilarating.

“It was an experience in itself because we were studying each player’s movement and looking for some of their traits. Something we can highlight when we are on stage,” says video jockey Sunanda Wong.

She also reveals that the anchors too were keen on getting a first-hand taste of kabaddi. “We actually did try a game. Of course, we were terrible, but we still enjoyed,” she further mentions.

Following a glitzy opening in Mumbai, the PKL caravan will shift base to Kolkata. Delhi stands as the third venue, followed by Patna, Pune, Visakhapatnam, and finally Bangalore, which will also stage the semi-finals and final.

Lights, camera, action. The testing process starts. And then it is repeated again and again till the organizers are finally satisfied. Kumar has already declared his fondness for the setting.

But he’ll have to wait till Tuesday to get his first taste of the PKL buzz. Fellow veteran Navneet Gautam though will be in action on Saturday. And he’s already awaiting the first blast of multi-coloured rays to set alight the NSCI and kabaddi’s long-awaited revolution.

Says Gautam, “All the work won’t just get a crowd for one game. It’ll keep them hooked for life.”