The Kho Kho World Cup is having its inaugural edition in India, but Argentina captain Mariano Pascual has already participated in the World Cup in India.
It was in 2016 when Pascual was part of the Argentine kabaddi team for the third edition of the World Cup in Ahmedabad. It wasn’t a particularly memorable campaign, as the South American country lost all five matches and finished last in Group A, but it was the beginning of Pascual’s tryst with the tag games, which have their origins in India.
Pascual was 22 years old at the time and had little experience with kabaddi. Currently, the 31-year-old is the captain of the Argentine kabaddi team. During this inaugural edition of the Kho Kho World Cup, he was also entrusted with the responsibility of leading his compatriots.
Another common link between the two teams is coach Ricardo Acuna, who was instrumental in bringing Pascual to kabaddi in the months before the 2016 World Cup.
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“I have been playing kabaddi for the Argentine national team since 2016. And for the last year I have been playing kho kho professionally,” said Pascual, who works as a high school physical education teacher in his home country. Sports stars. “Kabaddi and kho kho are similar in terms of chasing, escape, agility and foot speed. But kho kho requires more stamina than kabaddi.
When the conversation turned to soccer, a ubiquitous sport in Argentina, Pascual flashed a broad smile. Like most Argentines, Pascual played football as a child. He was the right-back for Argentinos Juniors, the club where Diego Maradona made his professional debut at age-group level. However, belonging to O’Brien, a small town located 300 kilometers from Buenos Aires, he was unable to reach the highest level.
“I was a footballer at amateur level. In Argentina, everyone plays soccer. I tried to pursue professional football, but it was very difficult for me money-wise. I also lived in a small town, far from the city, where there are greater chances for promotion. That’s why I couldn’t keep trying. When I discovered kabaddi, I fell in love with it,” he said.
When asked to choose between Maradona and Lionel Messi, he quickly replies: “Maradona. I love both of them, but my idol was Maradona. Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors. I played for Argentinos Juniors and supported Boca Juniors.
Can kho kho also gain popularity in its homeland? “We know that many countries have had much more time to prepare for the World Cup, but Argentines can be good at many sports. We just need time. I know we can evolve into kho kho,” he said.
