Swat holds snow kabaddi championship

Activity was introduced to promote winter tourism in area

SWAT:

A snow kabaddi championship was organised in the Kalam area of Swat in which six local teams as well as regional teams also participated.

Kabaddi is a form of traditional wrestling which was once really famous locally but with the passage of time, it was replaced with modern games like cricket and hockey.

Traditional games have become a thing of the past in just a span of a few decades.

In order to reintroduce the game in its former strong hold Kalam, it was decided to increase its attraction by means of some innovations.

This is what gave birth to snow kabaddi in Kalam within a clear cut aim to attract locals and tourists alike.

A snow kabaddi championship is held each year when snow blankets Kalam and temperature plunges to sub-zero level in the scenic town which is said to be the main attraction for tourists in the district.

This year the championship was held for the third year as mercury had dropped to minus 17 degree Celsius.

While talking to The Express Tribune the players said that they were playing the game of kabaddi for quite some time but it was really different and much difficult to play in the freezing cold weather.

The weather is so harsh taht even the locals are forced to stay inside their houses due to extreme cold and snow fall.

“It is challenging but I really like it because it is a new thing. Since it is a new sport it also attracts local people from the surrounding areas as well as a large number of tourists,” a player said, mote winter tourism in Kalam and Swat.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2021.