USM PENANG, 17 June 2023 – A team from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) came second at the recently-held Kabaddi Competition for Men’s Category in Kalam 3.0 Kabaddi Tournament.

Held at Kompleks Sukan Minden USM, the tournament was hosted by the Kabaddi Unit, Persatuan Kebudayaan India (PKI) USM, with the competition offering cash prizes and certificates, which added to the excitement.

In the Men’s Category, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM) and Universiti Malaya (UM) were placed First and Third respectively.

Meanwhile, in the Women’s Category, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Malaya were placed at the First, Second and Third position respectively.

According to the Chairman of the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, Bukit Bendera District, Viveka Nayagan A. Tharman in his closing speech said that, he is happy that many Indians were able to come together at Kalam 3.0 Kabaddi tournament. “I am proud to announce that the Malaysian Hindu Sangam has always been a part in the current and previous Kalam organised by the Kabaddi Unit, PKI USM,” he said.

“I hope that this intervarsity competition among institutions does not end with Kalam 3.0, since it has to grow and carry on the heritage to a greater extent,” he added.

Meanwhile, the USM Indian Graduates Association 2022/2023 President, Selvekumaren Muthuswamy in his speech said that Kalam 3.0 is a platform to highlight its uniqueness and to strengthen the traditional practice of Indian sports among USM students along with other universities.

A total of 170 students from 8 universities comprising of 8 men teams and 7 women teams took part in the competition.

Also present were the Deputy President of Persatuan Kabaddi Pulau Pinang, ASP Arulprakash Balakrishnan; PKI USM Vice-President, Shavitra Selven; Founder of PKI Kabaddi Unit USM, Hariharan Manivannan; Project Director of Kalam 3.0 USM, Ashvin Nair Muralidharan Nair and principal officers of USM and Indian Graduates Association.

Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi/Photo: Courtesy of Kabaddi Unit, Persatuan Kebudayaan India