News Notes
By Rucha Kulkarni
The ancient Indian sport of Mallakhamb has recently received world-wide fame and success, thanks to the two World Mallakhamb Championships that have taken place and its journey towards the Olympics taking shape. The sport that can first be traced back to the Ramayana in the 4th Century BCE India, has now reached all corners of the world. A big part in this rewarding journey belongs to Balambhatta Dada Deodhar who successfully implemented Mallakhamb as an army training method in Peshwa Bajirao II’s army in the early 1700s. From there, it was picked up by other Maratha warriors including Rani of Jhansi. The sport’s deep-rooted history lies in the Indian state of Maharashtra, making the state a hub for the form during the Maratha Empire.
The word “Mallakhamb” can be broken down into Malla (wrestling) and Khamb (refers to the pole used in the sport). Wrestlers and warriors used to pole as a training means to perfect martial arts moves. The sport is now a type of Indian gymnastics on a vertical pole. The pole is usually made from Indian rosewood.
Mallakhamb first traveled outside of India during the Berlin 1936 Olympics where it was showcased as a demonstrative sport. By 1958, it was demonstrated in Delhi where the Gymnastics Federation of India hosted the first Mallakhamb National Championships.
The road to worldwide fame seemed wide-open from there! The Mallakhamb Federation of India started organizing their own Championships beginning in 1980, where the first Ujjain All India Mallakhamb Championships took place. Realizing not only the health benefits of the sport, but also its growing popularity, the government of India recognized Mallakhamb as a national game.
This led to the sport being included in various National Championships in India, most notably – the Khelo India Youth Games. As Mallakhamb continued to venture out onto foreign lands, such as the CommonWealth Games in Australia, more enthusiasts came to appreciate it. Many began formally practicing it, which then allowed the Vishwa Mallakhamb Federation to organize the first Mallakhamb World Championships in Mumbai in 2019, where 150 athletes from 15 countries participated. In 2023, the second Mallakhamb World Championships took place in Dhubri, Assam where more than 40 countries showed interest in taking part.
As the sport continues to attract admirers all over the World, the Mallakhamb Federation of USA looks towards a prospective demonstration in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The effort to include Mallakhamb as an Olympic sport endures, until then, supporters around the globe continue to find it as one of the most efficient way to give maximum exercise to maximum muscles in minimum time.
Article & photos courtesy of Mallakhamb Federation USA. For info visit, www.mallakhambinusa.org
