Kho Kho World Cup | Mariano Pascual’s earlier tryst with India and World Cups

The Kho Kho World Cup is in its inaugural version in India, however Argentina’s Mariano Pascual has been at a World Cup in India earlier than. That was in 2016, when Pascual was a part of Argentina’s kabaddi staff for the third version of the World Cup in Ahmedabad. It wasn’t a very memorable marketing campaign because the South American nation misplaced all 5 matches to complete backside of Pool-A, but it surely was the start of Pascual’s tryst with tag-games which have their roots in India.
Pascual was 22 years outdated and really new to the game of kabaddi then. Now 31, he has gone on to turn out to be captain of Argentina’s kabaddi staff. At this opening version of the Kho Kho World Cup, too, he has been entrusted with the duty of main his countrymen.
One other widespread hyperlink between the 2 groups is coach Ricardo Acuna, who was instrumental in drawing Pascual to kabaddi a number of months earlier than the 2016 World Cup.
“I’ve been enjoying kabaddi for Argentina since 2016. And I’ve been enjoying kho kho professionally over the previous 12 months,” Pascual, who works as a bodily training instructor at a highschool again dwelling, informed The Hindu. “Kabaddi and kho kho are related when it comes to pursuit, escape, agility and leg pace. However kho kho requires extra endurance than kabaddi.”
Because the dialog veered in the direction of soccer, a sport that’s ubiquitous in Argentina, Pascual flashed a broad smile. Like most Argentinians, Pascual performed soccer as a baby. He was a right-back for Argentinos Juniors, the membership that his idol Diego Maradona made his skilled debut for, on the age-group ranges. However belonging to O’Brien, a small city 300 kilometres from Buenos Aires, he wasn’t capable of attain the very best degree.
“I used to be a footballer at beginner degree. Everybody performs soccer in Argentina. I attempted to enter skilled soccer, but it surely was very onerous when it comes to cash to maintain attempting. I used to be additionally residing in a small city, distant from the town the place there are extra possibilities to make the lower. So I couldn’t carry on attempting. After I found kabaddi, I fell in love with it,” he mentioned.
Can kho kho additionally achieve recognition in his homeland? “We all know that many international locations had much more preparation time for this World Cup, however Argentinians may be good at a variety of sports activities. We simply want time. I do know that we are able to evolve in kho kho,” he mentioned.
Revealed – January 15, 2025 11:21 pm IST