Aainball, a 13 year old game, is becoming a new sporting attraction for boys and girls in the country.
In last five years, the game has been introduced in 26 states and 4 national level competitions were organised, Coach Aainball Association India , Syed Aleem Andrabi told Rising Kashmir.
With two J and K players, Parvinder Sing and Afaq Khan, Indian Aainball team also played world Championship in Morocco where the team finished as runner up after losing summit clash with Jordon.
The 4th National Aainball event was held from 16th to 18th October 2022 at Buari village of Muzaffarpur district in Bihar in which Northeast state of Assam defended their title.
“Taking part in 4th National Aainball Championship in Bihar was a good learning experience for me,” Wajhat Abdullah, a class 9th student from Solace International School Drussu Pulwama said.He was one among the players selected in J and K team.
He said that he has been training hard to learn the game from past six months.After qualifying trials, he was included in the J and K team.
“Aainball is a fast game. It requires lot of fitness, stamina and coordination,” another player, Syeed Uzair, who took part in the tournament said.
He said that all players of his team were excited with the tournament and it was a nice experience for them.
Aain is an Arabic word which means Eye.“The game is good for strengthening visual senses,” Coach Syed AleemAndrabi said, adding that it is a game based on colours, concentration and coordination.
He said that the sport was founded by Mohammad Hamane in 2009 in Morocco and the game is being played in 36 countries mostly in Europe and Africa.
Aleem said that a 4 year research study was conducted on different colours and their impact in influencing behaviours.He explained that various appealing colours and a set a body skills were incorporated into the sport for sharping eyesight and brain. “It is a mix of football, basket ball and hand ball.”
Aainball is a no physical contact sport as such both boys and girls can be members of a playing team. Each team has 8 players, 4 playing and 4 substitutes.
A referee shows flag of a particular colour and the players have to pick up a ball of that colour.The passing of ball is allowed by foot, hand and head.Passing the ball by head secures a team 3 points and for basketing the ball a team gets 3 extra points.
There are negative points for moving out of a circle while passing. One point is deducted if a player moves out from the circle while passing the ball.
Syed Mohammad Waseem, Secretary Aainball Federation India told Rising Kashmir that young boys and girls are excited with this sport which is emerging as a new attraction for them.
“Around 10,000 boys and girls play this game across the country,” he said, adding that especially girl players are amusing spectators with their speed and skills through this game.
He said that players are mostly coming from districts through state/UT associations.
