Challenge Accepted

UMumba captain Anup Kumar has been one of India’s marquee Kabaddi exponents for nearly a decade now. The champion answered FHM India’s questions about life and the sport.

Hello Mr Captain Cool, how have you been?

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Cool to hi hain main, par, (I’m cool, but) it has been a busy three months with the Pro Kabaddi League! I always do enjoy these three months given that I get the abundant opportunities to spend time on the mat and there is this great sense of family that comes with being on the road with some of your closest friends for so long. Also, there is a sense of belonging in wearing a U Mumba jersey - which I get when I wear this jersey, that’s actually a great feeling.

How did you get into this sport?

I started playing Kabaddi back in 1996 when I was fourteen. My earliest memories would be the ones where I would just train day in and day out. That is when I learned how important hard work is to achieve anything in life. Even back then Kabaddi was not just a sport for me; it was an institution in itself which taught me the most important lessons in life.

I must tell you though that initially, my family was very skeptical about me wanting to be a Kabaddi player, but as time passed and they began to realise that I was indeed good at the sport and was serious about it, they backed me up. Now they encourage me whenever and wherever I play – they are the reason I have come so far.

How Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has influenced this sport?

Rakesh (Kumar) and I often talk about this - there was Kabaddi before the Pro Kabaddi League and there’s Kabaddi after it began. This was a very important development for the sport. Now Kabaddi is broadcast across the world and the media attention has been very encouraging. Thanks to PKL today, Kabaddi has arrived in big cities and has become more popular than it could ever be.

It has been a life-changing experience for all of us! We have become celebrities now and our sport has become one of the most popular ones in the country. It has also been a learning experience, playing alongside new, young, players, and players from other countries and different coaches. I have been a part of U Mumba ever since the tournament started and now I have two families – the U Mumba one and the one of my own.

You are famously known as ‘Bonus ka Badshah.’ Can you tell us about your favourite move?

I like to observe my opponents carefully before I make my move. As you must have noticed, I take my time with my raids. I don’t like being hasty. I also always aim for the bonus.

You have made Indians proud at the Asian Games, South Asian Games and Kabaddi World Cup. Tell us about your international career.

I think it was in 2006 when I first represented the country and realised – this is it! We won Gold at the Asian Games in Guangzhou that year, and I knew, that moment, that this is what I wanted to do for a living – making my country proud.

India has now won 7 Asian Games in a row. I am very proud to have contributed to that. I have been the Vice Captain of the team in 2010 and 2014 and together as a team, we have won the golds.

What drives you to get up and go training every day?

You must ask me really, how do I switch off, because woah jawab to is se easy hain! Jab aapko apne kaam se itna pyaar or samman milte hain, to aap sirf apna sport khelna chahtain hon.

You never want to switch off completely from your game, because that is what keeps you going. I just distract my mind sometimes– maybe sleep or watch some TV. If you respect your body and mind, relaxation and recovery come automatically.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Follow your heart, dedicate yourself to your sport and put in a lot of hard work; everything else will follow. Be true to yourself and always believe in your sport, your abilities and in your team. Respect your coach, your fellow athletes, and your sport and I am telling you this, from experience, there will be no stopping you. Do what you love and love what you do- Always!

Apart from Kabaddi, what do you like to do?

I love to spend time with my family, in my farms, and with my people.

Choose a movie title for the story of your life.

Jo Jeeta wohi Sikander.

What would be your ultimate achievement?

Continuing with Kabaddi in any role possible to make it an Olympic Sport.

What is your diet like?

Haryana ki Doodh and Khanna – we must never forget that we know our bodies the best and as long as we treat it with the respect it deserves, it will always serve us.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your sports?

When I represented India in the sport for the first time.