The 20-year-old missed the Asian Games cut but finished among the top five defenders at the Senior Nationals. Now she has a fresh chance in Ahmedabad.
Muskan Sharma, a 20-year-old defender from Indore, has been selected in India’s squad for the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad, which runs from Friday, 23 October to Friday, 30 October. The call-up gives her a second shot at international kabaddi after she missed the final cut for India’s Asian Games squad.
Her selection, reported by The Times of India, followed a strong campaign at the 72nd Senior National Kabaddi Championship in Hyderabad earlier this year, where she emerged among the country’s top five defenders. That showing made sure that the Asian Games disappointment did not end her season.
Muskan represented Madhya Pradesh in Hyderabad and played a key defensive role as the state women’s team reached the quarterfinals, the first time they had got that far in more than two decades. For a state that is not usually counted among the traditional powers of the women’s game, it was a significant run, and Muskan’s work in defence was central to it.
She said the setback of missing the Asian Games squad had pushed her to keep improving rather than step back.
“Being selected for the Indian team is a big opportunity for me. Missing out on the Asian Games squad was disappointing, but I continued working on my game. I want to give my best at the Commonwealth Championship and make the most of this chance to represent my country,” Muskan said.
Muskan’s rise has come despite a disrupted training routine. She spent more than a decade honing her skills at Bhau Shinde Khel Parisar, the historic Indore sports ground that has been taken over for the city’s ongoing Metro project. The loss of that familiar base unsettled preparations for several players, who had to adjust to other grounds and limited facilities.
She is a trainee of the Indore Wonders Kabaddi Club and is coached by Vikram Awardee Dhananjay Sharma, who credited her consistency, discipline and defensive skills for her progress. Away from the mat, Muskan is pursuing a BCom degree at a city college, balancing her studies with competitive sport.
“Muskan has worked hard to reach this level. Her performance at the Senior Nationals showed her defensive ability and consistency. Her selection for the Commonwealth Championship is a recognition of that effort, and I hope she makes the most of this opportunity,” said her coach, Dhananjay Sharma.
The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship is being held for the first time and will feature teams from 14 nations: India, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Scotland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and the United Kingdom.
For Muskan, the tournament is a chance to establish herself at international level and build on her domestic performances, with an eye on future India assignments. The championship gets under way in Ahmedabad on Friday, 23 October, with the final day of competition on Friday, 30 October.
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