The ancient sport of kabaddi was born in India an estimated 4,000 years ago.Imagine trying to learn it in six weeks, then playing against the top competitors in the world.Thats the challenge facing the United States team in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup in Ahmedabad, India. But its a test the American players are eager to embrace as they learn the finer points of a sport that might best be described as a combination of wrestling and tag.Its an easy sport to pick up, but its a hard sport to master, said United States co-captain Kushim Rey. It takes synchronicity. Everybody has to be on the same page at the same time, making the same moves and thinking the same way. If anyone is off the page or out of sync just a little bit, it shows.Kabaddi (pronounced kaba-DEE) ranks among Indias most popular sports. It can be played in a traditional, beach or circle format and uses no equipment. Although kabaddi has historically been played outdoors, it has become regularly contested in arena settings this century.The World Cup features a traditional format with international rules on a playing area about one-third the size of a basketball court. Two teams field seven players each, taking turns on offense, with one player raiding the other side of the court in an attempt to tag a defender and get back across the center line before being tackled. Complete rules can be found at the Kabaddi World Cup website.The American team was selected this summer and worked with a coach from India for about a month in Jacksonville, Florida. All of the team members are in their 20s, most are from Florida and many have competed in football, basketball or track and field at various levels. They have continued to train and study in earnest upon arriving in Ahmedabad for the tournament.Were still conditioning and practicing, watching film and learning the game strategically, said team member Devin Anderson. Its been an ongoing process. Weve been eating, breathing and sleeping kabaddi.Kabaddi is enjoying a surge in broadcast promotion, and organizers hope to grow the sport internationally. India is home to the Pro Kabaddi League, which has both mens and womens divisions. India won each of the two previous editions of the Kabaddi World Cup. Both times, Iran finished second, and Bangladesh placed third. This years tournament opened with South Korea scoring a 34-32 upset win over India.The United States team is facing a learning curve, of course. It opened with a 52-15 loss to Iran, which again is considered a top contender in the 12-team field. The Americans lost their second match 45-19 to Japan. They play their third match on Friday against Poland.Its definitely been a fun learning experience, said player Ronald Fields, a native of New Jersey. But the difference between a good team and a great team is experience -- understanding the skill set and capitalizing on it.Rey, who played football in junior college, notes similarities between the two sports. Both require speed, strength and sound tackling form. While teamwork is preached as crucial in football, Rey said its even more important in kabaddi, in which defenders need to move together fluidly and precisely in order to succeed.Its the ultimate team sport, said Rey, who grew up in Jacksonville. In football, if you give the ball to Barry Sanders, even if his line doesnt block, he could still make a play and score a touchdown. But here, if youre on defense and one person makes a wrong move, you can end up losing major points.Rey and co-captain Ben Marcelus each point out the importance of the mental aspect of the sport, which in some ways is analogous to a high-speed chess match. Being able to correctly judge the consequences of your moves and anticipate the next moves of your opponents are crucial to winning.One slipup and youre out, so the toughest thing is awareness, said Marcelus, who grew up in Miami. What is the next move? Anticipation is huge when it comes to kabaddi. Once you build your awareness, then your athleticism, talent, speed, agility and quickness -- everything will fall into place.Denmar McKie, who is also from Miami, was sitting in a yoga class when he first learned of the opportunity to join the U.S. team. He received a text out of the blue from Rey that simply said, Do you want to go to India?Yoga also originated thousands of years ago on the Indian subcontinent, and McKie said the two disciplines require similar flexibility and dexterity skills. Nevertheless, the American team is getting a baptism by fire against far more experienced kabaddi teams.A lot of us have sports backgrounds, McKie said. We have speed, strength and agility, but unless you know the rhythm of the sport, its difficult to adjust. Were playing against the best in the world. Its almost like trying to learn basketball by playing against the?Golden State Warriors.Regardless of where the Americans place in the final World Cup standings, Anderson said he and his teammates have already been positively influenced by this ancient sport and the Indian people and culture.Its a beautiful place, and the food is amazing, said Anderson, who lives in Tampa, Florida. Its been a surreal experience as far as people walking up and taking selfies and asking for my autograph. Its been a life-changing experience, a humbling experience. India has been amazing. Jordan 13 For Sale Cheap . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Jordan 13 China Wholesale . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. http://www.cheapairjordan13.com/ . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Cheap Jordan 13 Online . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Wholesale Jordan Retro 13 . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records.Watford will be out to derail Leicester City’s unlikely push for the Premier League title on Saturday Night Football – but Jamie Redknapp believes Claudio Ranieris fearless Foxes are up for the challenge... I know how Leicester are feeling. I wasnt lucky enough to enough to win the league in my career but I was certainly in a position where we should have won it. There is an enormous amount of pressure that comes when youre in the position Leicester find themselves in.On the other hand, there is no pressure on them at all because nobody expects them to actually win the league. Fans and media attention constantly remind players of how well theyre doing and thats when suddenly the title can become a reality. Players can then put themselves under more pressure than they probably should. Pressure, and how you deal with it, is what the title race is all about, its the same for Tottenham, Arsenal and Man City. Citys star-studded squad are clearly struggling with the pressure while Arsenal have had a difficult week, losing to Manchester United and Swansea.On Tuesday night Leicester would have been down in the dumps after drawing with West Brom but Wednesdays results will have made them feel like a million dollars. With a favourable set of fixtures on paper ahead of them, the time has come for Leicester to be realistic - they are right in the frame for title! Ed Chamberlin and Jamie Redknapp preview Leicesters Saturday Night Football clash with Watford as well as looking ahead to all the 3pm Premier League fixtures We all know the game isnt played on paper and some of these games wont necessarily suit Leicesters style of play - Watford on Saturday being a prime example of this. Quique Sanchez Flores will have his team sat back in an attempt to lure Leicester out, negating their ability to counter attack.I feel both teams 4-4-2 systems will cancel each other out. Their meeting earlier in the season - a 2-1 win for Leicester - was tight and I suspect this one to be too. Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo will cause Leicesters back four problems but both teams are direct and arent afraid of getting the ball forward. The margins are incredibly fine and Im struggling to pick a winner. Whats certain is that if Leicester can walk away with three points it will be huge for them in the title race. Watford, meanwhile, are a win away from securing their Premier League status for another year. Many people tipped them to go straight back down to the Championship but they have been one of the stories of the season.NGolo Kante may return for Saturdays trip to Vicarage Road and that will be a massive boost for Leicester. Take nothing away from Andy King, who scored on Tuesday and couldnt have done a lot mmore, but he is not Kante, who has to play if he is fit.dddddddddddd NGolo Kante must not be risked if he is doubtful at Watford, says Jamie If he is a doubt, though, is it worth the risk? Ranieri is taking a gamble if he does start him because he could aggravate his hamstring and face a lengthy spell out. I would be nervous playing Kante if his chances are 50/50, but if theyre sure then by all means put him straight back into the team. I would stress that there are still so many games to play, so the last thing Leicester will want is to lose him for five or six games.Leicester havent been romping to victory in recent weeks and theyll be hoping to nip a run of unconvincing results in the bud. I know they beat Norwich but they need a couple of results to get that winning feeling and momentum back again for the title run-in. Budweisers search for its Dream Goal continues with the help of Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp Having said that, there is a really nice pace and energy to their team and a real feel-good spirit at the club. When I look at Man City I dont see them working for each other, I dont see people busting a gut to fill in for their team-mates if they make a mistake but I definitely see that at Leicester.Watford are more than capable of holding their own but the Foxes have nothing to fear. Theyll head south and play in the exact same manner they have done all season, getting the ball forward and asking questions of the hosts back four which lacks pace. There is an enormous amount of pressure when you’re in Leicesters position but, to a certain extent, there is no pressure on them at all as nobody expects them to win the league. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp Leicester have got the best record in the Premier League away from home but, as weve seen this season, theyre as good at the King Power as they are anywhere. They are comfortable in their own skin and theyll tackle every challenge head on.Watch Watford v Leicester live on Saturday Night Football, 5.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD Also See: Pundits top four picks Ranieri dismisses Italy link Sky Live: Watford v Leicester Flores confident in strikers cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '