YMCA Faridabad ''A'' wins kabaddi tournament

Coming from behind, YMCA Faridabad (A) beat their `B’ counterpart 37-24 to lift the first All India Inter-YMCA Kabaddi Tournament Trophy at the Faridabad Sports Complex on Sunday. The winners were trailing 13-20 at halftime but egged on by the home crowd managed to overcome the seven-point deficit midway through the second half to emerge winners.

Earlier in the semifinals, YMCA `A’ had beaten the YMCA College of Physical Education team 36-17 after leading 24-12 at the breather.

YMCA (B) had finally defeated YMCA Bombay 40-37.

Madras YMCA College of Physical Education and YMCA Bombay were declared joint third-place winners. Patiala, Triputtar, Bheemtaal, and Ajmer were the other prominent teams that took part in the tournament.

Kiran Kumar of Madras YMCA College of Physical Education was adjudged as the most promising player of the tournament while the YMCA Triputtur team got the Fair Play Trophy.

Well-known kabaddi player Anita Mava, a gold medal winner at the Incheon Asian Games, inaugurated the tournament.

She expressed happiness that YMCAs had organized a national-level tournament in Faridabad.

"We need more such tournaments to encourage young players. I will not be surprised if we see some of these players in the Indian Kabaddi League," she said talking about the quality of the Kabaddi players on display.

Many good and promising kabaddi players train daily at the Faridabad Sports Complex.

However, due to the non-availability of a mat, they are forced to train in sand court. Bearing in mind the keen interest of the players and the successful organization of the tournament, Mr Vincent George, President of the National Council of YMCAs in India complimented the players. He assured them that soon a new mat would be provided at the Faridabad Sports Complex.