Kabaddi: Rugby prop transfers skills to Indian code

Raman Deep Tai-Singh, of Hastings, shows why he's the No 1 raider in New Zealand. Photo / Paul Taylor

He is of Punjabi/Maori descent but it was the thirst for his Sikh culture that drew Raman Deep Tai-Singh to the contact sport of kabaddi.

"I was playing rugby at the time and it looked like something I could do," says Tai-Singh who was a former Hastings Boys' High School second division XV prop while watching the inaugural kabaddi tournament at St Leonard's Park, Hastings, in 2009.

Because the ancient Indian sport is staged on the compounds of Sikh temples in New Zealand the then 15-year-old not only learned the art of kabaddi but also became accustomed to his Sikh values.

The son of immigrant dairy owner Dalbir Singh, 50, and Rotorua-born Marjorie Tai, he was born in Hastings. His father moved to New Zealand in the late 1980s from Jalandhar, Nakodar, in Punjabi.

"My nana and koro died [a decade ago] but before that I used to go to tangis on the marae as their grandson," he says of the "properly run" Murupara marae.

The stocky 21-year-old, a security officer with ACM, speaks fluent Punjabi and has frequented the Sikh temple in Hastings as a child.

Two years after first seeing the Punjabi-style kabaddi, Tai-Singh found himself as a raider for a team in his first competitive game in Hamilton.

"I was pretty scared because there were some pretty big guys and I was young at the time so it was an eye opener," he says, revealing he "didn't do much but it was good".

It must have been because in 2012 he was invited to trials to select a men's national team at the Takanini temple.

"I was the first raider to be picked," says Tai-Singh who is now the No1 in that position in New Zealand.

The Punjabi format of the game pits four raiders (attackers) and four stoppers (defenders), as opposed to the "national style" in Asia where one raider has to tag one of seven stoppers before retreating to his half.

The sport originated in the southern state of Tamil Nadu where it promoted the life skills of hunting and defending one's village.

While there are four major variations in India the principles of the game remain the same, albeit traditionally shirtless blokes grappling on dirt and grass but nowadays players wearing strips staged on indoor artificial courts.

"For me it was a little like bull rush in school but without the ball and mixed with touch [rugby] although grown men play it," says a grinning Tai-Singh, who represented New Zealand in the 12-team world championship in Ludhiana, Punjab, in 2012 .

On Sunday, he and fellow Hastings player Iqbal Singh Judge competed at Akina Park from midday to 5pm for Te Puke and Auckland, respectively.

The 29-year-old Hastings orchard worker is the best stopper in the country after performing around the world.

The former Punjab police officer, who moved down here from Auckland with wife Sonia Judge to be closer to cousin Jagdeep Singh Judge (owner of Zabeel's Sports Bar and TAB), has represented American teams in the world cup series in Canada and Dubai from 2009-12.

He started playing kabaddi from 7 and his prowess into his teens got him a job with the police force in 2004.

A senior player suggested he become a stopper because he was too tall to be a raider.

The HB association trophies at Akina Park.

"I had more stamina. I never thought I'd play in so many countries in my life," says Judge who has another cousin in the Punjab police force who inspires him as a former professional volleyballer.

Tai-Singh says they are like IPL cricketers in the Pro Kabaddi League in India.

"People used to play for a container of produce like ghee [clarified butter] but nowadays you can win cars, motorbikes and loads of money," he says.

The world championship, he reveals, has prizemoney of about $500,000.

It is quite common for teams from overseas, including Australia, to pay for their travel/accommodation expenses to compete at a tourney and also receive payment based on their performance.

"Sometimes people watching put up $50 to stop someone or attack as a raider so that becomes motivation," he says.

Thinking quick on their feet and tagging or stopping a person in 30 seconds are vital.

"Trust me, it feels like the longest 30 seconds of your life," says Tai-Singh.

Apart from honing their skills, the pair spend two hours a day doing strengthening workouts in the gym.

"We stop two days before a competition."

Iqbal Singh Judge, the No1 dump-truck stopper. Photo / Paul Taylor

HB Kabaddi Association vice-president Jagdeep "JJ" Singh Judge says they have bought a big trophy among other awards that were on display at Akina Park between a New Zealand and India flag on Sunday.

"We don't have a Hawke's Bay team yet but we want to start it soon," he says as players now travel to nearby established teams in the country to compete.