Newly Introduced Rolling Kabaddi Mats to Help Women Players Avoid Playing on Men’s Field

Women kabaddi players have expressed discomfort over the use of infrastructure and opportunities available to grow in their sport compared to their male counterparts.

There were concerns after mats with dimensions for men’s games were used for women’s games as well.

The 2016 Pro Kabaddi tournament organisers used the same mats for both men’s and women’s games as women’s games were scheduled immediately after the men’s games.

“That exposure was very bad because women’s playing area is smaller compared to men’s. It was not at all comfortable for us. We have never practised in such a field. Even if men are asked to play on women’s field, they will find it uncomfortable,” Asian Games gold medalist Pushpa Rana told News18.

While there are no technical differences in the mats, men play kabaddi on a 13m x 10m mat whereas; women play on a 12m x 8m mat.

“Defenders might still find it okay, but raiding gets tougher,” Rana, who is herself a raider, explained.

Rana and other women players are habituated to train and play on the smaller area for more than 10 years and this makes it more difficult for them.

“It will need more stamina and fitness. If we were always playing in larger area, we would have been used to it. But we have been playing on the smaller field, we understand the angles well, so it gets difficult to give our best performance,” a disappointed Rana said.

Kabaddi mat manufacturer Gravolite India’s Director Paras Maheshwari believes that timing constraints might be the only reason for the use of the same mats.

“The organisers can use the venue for a specific time. So the only reason I think might be is shortage of time. Otherwise, they inform us if it is women’s tournaments because it requires a lesser number of mats,” Maheshwari said.

Maheshwari further threw light on how newly introduced rolling mats will help to do away with this time constraint and allow players to play on mats with originally designated dimensions.

“There have been technological advancements in the mats. We are bringing in rolling mats for kabaddi. Instead of multiple separate pieces, a roll is used. They will make installations easier.

“One hour will be sufficient to change the playing area from men’s to women’s or vice versa with the rolling mats. The traditional mats would take around three hours to have things in place. It will also reduce the number of people required to install the mats.”

Meanwhile, Rana also lamented a lack of growth opportunities and a lesser number of tournaments for women.

“There are not enough camps and women players don’t get enough exposure. There is one tournament in three-four years, so I feel there is a downfall in Indian women’s kabaddi in India.”

The fact that there has been no women’s PKL, except for the 2016 prototype event, even after 10 years of the start of the men’s league substantiates Rana’s claim. The Yuva Kabaddi Series also saw its inaugural tournament for women in 2024, alongside men’s sixth season.

“Girls can also do better if they get such opportunities. I would want girls to have more academies and get more tournaments. Girls do work hard to make their careers and they should get good stage as well,” Rana said.

Rana concluded by saying that since kabaddi is an Indian game, India should outright dominate the sport.

“India is undoubtedly playing well, but others are doing good as well. If you take the example of the recent Asian Games, we played Chinese Taipei in the finals and they gave us good competition.”

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