America’s Mallakhamb couple

In the 70th episode of Mann ki Baat last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dwelt on Indian sports becoming popular in many countries in the West. He mentioned the US where an ancient Indian form of sports — Mallakhamb — was drawing in a steady stream of players, thanks to the efforts of a couple named Chinmay Patankar and Pradnya Patankar.

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Key-Points

Mallakhamb is one of the few games that is played against gravity. It functions on a synergy of mind and body, employing every muscle in a way that enables a person to develop speed, stamina and better health.

The name derives from the pole used by wrestlers for practising their skills though, today, Mallakhamb has developed an identity that is separate from wrestling or kushti.

The word malla means a wrestler or an athlete in Sanskrit and can also indicate a verb, such as strong or good. Khamb or kham, in spoken Marathi, means a pole. Therefore, Mallakhamb has come to be known as wrestling against a pole.

Nevertheless, there are two other Mallakhamb styles such as ‘rope mallakhamb’ and ‘hanging mallakhamb’.