Eel-powered Japan whizz-kid, 11, dominates in historic Games debut

Nagoya, Japan – A Japanese comic called Burning Kabaddi has sparked a newfound interest in the team contact sport among the country's Asian Games amateurs. At a gymnasium near the port city of Nagoya, Japan faces South Korea in a bid for an Asian Games medal that could boost the sport's popularity. The Japanese team, made up of teachers and food workers, won 62-35 against their South Korean counterparts to keep their medal hopes alive.

Captain Tetsuro Abe revealed that over 80 percent of the players started their kabaddi journey through the comic. Kabaddi, played between two teams of seven, is a blend of tag, wrestling, and rugby without a ball. It demands speed, strength, agility, and breath control. The sport took off in Japan in 2010 when the men's team won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Guangzhou.

However, this time, the competition is stiffer as a strong showing by Japan at the home Games could generate more interest and possibly attract sponsors. Abe noted that the players, who hold regular jobs, don't earn money for playing kabaddi and have to seek special dispensation from their employers.

Japan's kabaddi journey began in 1981, with national and regional tournaments held annually since 1989. The sport gained royal endorsement when Prince Hisahito, the Emperor's nephew, attended a match. The Japan Kabaddi Federation has been instrumental in organizing these tournaments.

The sport's accessibility is another selling point, requiring no equipment, unlike other sports. This has helped it retain its niche status in Japan, but the team hopes to elevate its standing with a strong performance in the upcoming Games.