Sport of kabaddi unites growing Punjabi community in Edmonton

Growing up in India, Paul Boparai played a sport called kabaddi.

Players took turns being "raiders." They tried to run from their half of the field into the other team's half to tag the other team's appointed "stopper" and then make it back to where they started without getting pulled to the ground to earn a point. If they're shut down, the other team earns a point.

For seven years, Boparai built his skill, but then he immigrated to Canada.

"When we came here, it was a very small population in the East Indian community," said Boparai Saturday, standing off to the side of hundreds of people gathered for the Alberta Kabaddi Club's fourth annual tournament at theClareviewrecreation centre.

"Our communities are growing in Canada, in the U.S.and we are developing this game here."

Professional players travelled from India for the event, which included eight teams, some of which were based closer to home, in the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario. None of the players were from Alberta, but most of the people in the crowd were.

The one-day tournament schedule was made up of 10 games. The first game began around 1 p.m., with people dotting the sidelines. By the time of the third game at 3 p.m., the parking lots around the complex were full and those who came later were forced to crane their necks to see.

Co-ordinator Yash Sharma estimates the Alberta Kabaddi Club, made up of 25 members, all of whom used to play the sport, spent upwards of $100,000 putting the event together.

Sharma said it's a big community draw, especially for people who might be missing India.

"They just like to keep themselves cheered, because otherwise there is a lot of depression," Sharma said, adding there are people who work very long hours and could feel isolated.

The opportunity to re-engage with kabaddi makes them "feel that they are at home," Sharma said.

"This is our traditional game. They want that they should remained glued to their culture and heritage," Sharma said.

"People want to be united. People want to be inclusive. This Punjabi community, they should have such pleasure once a year."