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BHOPAL:Admitting the need of government support in attracting youngsters towards Kabaddi game, Incheon Asian Games gold medallist and Indian team skipper Anup Kumar said there is ample space to improve the situation. He was in the state capital to attend valedictory ceremony of sports league organised by RKDF Institute of Science and Technology on Friday.

Kabaddi is the only game where India's supremacy in the Asian Games is unhindered. Kabaddi was included in 11th Asian Games at Bejing, China in 1990. India has won Kabaddi gold in every Asian Games organised after the inclusion of this game. However, popularity of this game in the country is somewhere limited to rural population.

Skipper Kumar said, "After professional league, the thinking about Kabaddi has changed across India, but still lot of work needs to be done. Earlier, people did not know me or other players. After professional league they have started to recognize us, which simply suggests it had evoked public interest in the game. Need is to make it popular at school and college level."

He suggested organising regular tournaments and increasing prize money can make a big difference. "Player always put his best when there is competition. If there is more competition for players they would have better opportunity to showcase their talent. Similarly, players need money also. These are two areas where this game needs support," Kumar said. About popularity of the game at international level, he said, "Look at Iran. They have improved a lot and have been trained by Indian coaches. In the final they made it tough for us before we won. It means that the game has good international recognition."

Talking about his future plan, he said, "World Cup is the next big tournament. Final dates are yet to be finalised." When asked the reason of organising most of national camps of Kabaddi in Bhopal only, he said, "World class facilities and climate has made Bhopal as the one of the best venues for preparatory camps."