Mallakhamb is a traditional Indian sport in which a gymnast performs feats and poses in concert with a vertical wooden pole or rope. Mallakhamba derives from the terms, malla which denotes a wrestler and khamba which means a pole. Mallakhamba can therefore be translated in English as pole gymnastics... . The earliest recorded reference to mallakhamba is found in Someshvara Chalukyas classic Manasollasa 1135 AD. Originally, mallakhamba was used as a supporting exercise for wrestlers. Although known to have been practiced in medieval Maharasthra and Hyderabad, the sport didnt become visible in practice and well recorded until the 18th century when it was revived by Balambhatdada Deodhar, the fitness instructor of PeshwaBaji Rao II during the reign of the Peshwas. Subsequently, the unavailability of cane resulted in rope mallakhamba. Today, it is used more often as a performance art rather than a method of training. At present The Mallakhamb Federation of India is the official Indian National Federation. 29 states of India participate in mallakhamba competitions at the national level.

Director: Ajay N Gupta

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