Fans of kabbadi are more attached to their heroes: Charu Sharma

In terms of number, cricket always has a big fan following, but in case of kabbadi, which is more of a ‘desi’ game, fans are attached more to their heroes, said cricket commentator Charu Sharma during his visit to Indore.

In terms of number, cricket always has a big fan following, but in case of kabbadi, which is more of a ‘desi’ game, fans are attached more to their heroes, said cricket commentator and sports entrepreneur Charu Sharma, while speaking to Hindustan Times during his visit to Indore.

Charu Sharma said kabbadi is still a traditional game as it has brought a lot of recognition in the past and the passion of people for the sport is still present. (Shankar Mourya/HT photo)

Sharma, director of Mashal Sports and one of the brain behind the creation of Pro-Kabaddi along with industrialist Mahindra & Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra, expressed his view on what made him zero in on kabaddi, instead of going for other sports in the country.

Kabbadi is still a ‘buland game’ or traditional game as it has brought a lot of recognition in the past and the passion of people for the sport is still present.

When asked about large corporate house and celebrities owning teams and extending their support for the game, Sharma said that he always wanted big corporate houses, celebrities to extend their support for the game, but to be sports team owners, one has to do it with joy, pride, excitement and development.

Sharma, who spent a long stint as cricket commentataor as well as television anchor and presenter said he always enjoys live audience and live commentary.

“The job of presentation and anchoring is more difficult as compared to commentary, because it takes a lot out of you and the audience judges your ability within 10 to 15 seconds,” Sharma said.

Commenting on the important elements for being a good commentator, Sharma said, “If you have to divide all the elements in 100 units, 50 units is just the knowledge of language. If you have good knowledge of language, you could be a good commentator. Out of the remaining 50 units, 45 units is knowledge of game and 5 units will include your voice, expression, sense of humour and personality.”

“Nobody is born with a perfect knowledge of language, but you have to work hard and that makes a person a perfect commentator. In the current education system, school and colleges hardly pay attention on knowledge,” Sharma added.