From the earthquake rubble, Nepal finds itself a hero - Dabang Delhi's kabaddi star Jay Bahadur

Jay Bahadur Bohara

“The Pro Kabaddi League has made kids sit up and take notice in Nepal,” gushes Jay Bahadur Bohara, as we reached out to him today. Fresh off an assignment to pursue recovery operations in his native after the earthquakes, this 31-year-old army jawaan was drafted by the Dabang Delhi team, adding to what has till now, been an incredible journey.

“I was there during the earthquakes. We were kept on our toes and regularly sent on search and rescue operations. It was incredibly difficult for us, finding bodies and then handing them over to the families,” he recalled.

That’s how he recollects the calamity. And while the after-effects are still etched in his memory, he is more than ready to put it behind and provide people back home a reason to celebrate with his performances in the league.

A raider, he can be Delhi’s fall-back option and might in fact start in absence of a couple of top players who are out injured. Emphasising on the prospect, he said, “This is an amazing opportunity for me. I will get to improve my game and then I can pass on the knowledge with my peers back in Nepal.”

Jay better prepared for adversities now

A bronze medalist from the 2010 South Asian Games, he was stationed to fight Maoists for most of the last decade and that as he mentions has made him stronger mentally.

He admitted, “A lot of my time went in warding off these rebels during the civil war back home. While I did not want to do it, the experience has only made me better prepared for adversities now.”

Kabaddi as he mentions, is an escape from the rigours of day-to-day life. It vitalizes him and makes him forget the tumultuous times he has had to endure. Now that he is going to play in the franchise-based international league, he hopes to grab the opportunity with both hands.

“If I can do well, more and more people will take notice of the sport back home, the Government too will encourage and invest in it – that will do the sport a world of good,”

Expectantly that will happen, for in times such as these, role models like Jay are what Nepal and its people need.