News of a ‘large-scale disturbance’ at a Kabaddi tournament in Alvaston, Derby over the weekend has left a community in shock. Four people ended up in hospital, and four men were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and violent disorder. Video footage of the disorder has been widely shared on social media – several sent it me via WhatsApp – and it makes for grim viewing. In one video, gun shots appear to be fired, with crowds fleeing the scene and someone saying ‘there is the gun’ in Punjabi. Another video shows chaotic scenes with men brawling. Some can be seen brandishing weapons (including swords); some have hoodies up and faces covered. What’s normally a family friendly environment for Kabaddi fans was quickly and tragically turned into a war zone.
It is not clear what’s behind this violence, although there is some suggestion it is gang-related. The leader of Derbyshire Council, Baggy Shankar said: ‘We’re extremely saddened to hear that this has happened in our city. We will continue to work closely with Derbyshire police over the coming days.’ Sunday was indeed a sad day for Kabaddi fans like me, and for those across the country – and no doubt highlights the need for more stringent security arrangements at future events.
I grew up watching Kabaddi tournaments in English parks – my uncle Santokh (known as ‘the Professor’) was a well-known player for the Southall and England national team back in the 1970s. Another family friend played for the Indian Punjabi squad – he had, as I once discovered, a formidable vice-like grip. For readers unfamiliar with the sport, Kabaddi is a contact team sport popular in the Indian subcontinent, with two teams of seven players. It’s reported to be 4,000 years old and nowadays played by both men and women. A ‘raider’ from one team runs to the opposing team’s half of the court, and tags an opposing player, who on being tagged must stop (these players are referred to as ‘stoppers’) the ‘raider’ going back to the halfway line. The players I’ve met over the years tend to have ‘biceps to spare’. Players are often tough – many of the elite athletes in the sport have large followings on Instagram and strict diet and training regimes. There’s a Kabaddi World Cup, a Pro Kabaddi League in India, and it’s also played at the Asian Games. Kabaddi is of course popular with the diaspora community here too, especially Punjabis – and at one point, was even televised on Channel 4.
The weekend’s violence is unprecedented. The Punjab Times’s Mike Singh, who works near where the disturbance occurred told Derbyshire Live: ‘We’re disappointed, this was a family Kabaddi event, and I’ve heard rumours it was two gangs from out of Derby that spoiled the event for everyone else’. Witnesses have been advised to contact Derbyshire police with any more information. Let’s hope the perpetrators are brought to justice and Kabaddi fans can put this unfortunate incident behind them.
Comments