Indore’s kabaddi player Muskan eyes India jersey

Indore: Indore’s rising kabaddi player Muskan Sharma has moved a step closer to wearing the Indian jersey.

The 20-year-old defender has been selected for Indian women’s national coaching camp being held in Gandhinagar and is now being seen as a strong contender for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.

Muskan, a player of Indore Wanderers, learned and developed her game at Bhau Shinde Khel Parisar, the historic sports ground that was recently taken over for Metro project. The disruption had affected training schedules of several players during crucial months leading into major competitions, but Muskan continued to push through difficult circumstances.

“For us, that ground was not just a practice venue, it was part of our lives,” Muskan said. “There was uncertainty after it was taken away, but I kept focusing on training and improving my game. Getting selected for national camp feels like a reward for that struggle.”

Muskan’s rise has come after a remarkable season in which she emerged among the top five defenders at Senior National Kabaddi Championship in Hyderabad. Representing Madhya Pradesh, she played a key role in helping the state women’s team reach quarterfinals after more than two decades.

Her coach, Vikram Awardee Dhananjay Sharma, said that Muskan’s consistency and discipline had made her one of the strongest contenders for Indian squad. “Muskan has had a tremendous year. Her performances at nationals and in recent tournaments have been outstanding,” Sharma said. “She has shown maturity, strong defensive skills, and the ability to perform under pressure. Based on current form, she is a serious contender for Asian Games team.”

Sharma added that despite the emotional setback of losing their long-time training base, the players remained committed. “The girls trained wherever possible and never allowed the difficulties to break their spirit,” he said.

Alongside kabaddi, Muskan is also pursuing BCom from a city college, balancing academics with her dream of representing India on the international stage.