Bellary, March 31 – As India’s promising women’s kabaddi players continue their intensive training camp at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in Bellary, experienced all-rounder Sonali Shingate believes the shift towards structured strength and conditioning is a significant step forward for the sport.
A key member of India's gold-medal-winning squad at the 2025 Kabaddi World Cup in Dhaka and the silver-medal-winning team at the 2018 Asian Games, Shingate brings valuable experience to the camp, organized by the AKFI and Mashal Sports, which combines seasoned international players with emerging talent.
Reflecting on the sessions so far, she said, "The emphasis on strength and conditioning here is something new for many of us. It's helping us understand how to train more effectively and improve our overall performance."
With nearly a decade of experience at the highest level, Shingate highlighted the structured, science-based approach being implemented at IIS since March 27.
"The training is demanding, but recovery is equally important, and that's being managed very well here. It's helping our bodies adapt quickly," she noted.
Coming off a recent second-place finish for Indian Railways at the 72nd Women's Senior National Kabaddi Championship in Hyderabad, she emphasized the importance of balancing intensity with recovery in a high-performance environment.
"Earlier, we didn't always focus enough on recovery and managing workload, which sometimes led to injuries. With this kind of scientific approach, players can stay fitter and perform better," she said.
The camp, scheduled to last until April 2nd, has also fostered a competitive training environment, with younger players challenging established names and vice versa, creating a strong culture of continuous improvement within the squad.
"Training together motivates both seniors and juniors. We push each other to improve, and that healthy competition helps raise everyone's level," Shingate concluded.