User:Yogesh Khandke/sandbox Langdi

Langdi is a traditional Indian field sport. It is described as a sport with a Marathi ethos.

Efforts to popularise the sport
Langdi is considered to be useful in training for sports like kho kho, volley ball and gymnastics. The National Langdi Federation received national recognition in 2012. Langdi in Maharashtra is a popular childhood pass time, it is described as the foundation of all sports. Suresh Gandhi, Secretary of Langdi Federation of India acknowledges playing langdi isn't financially rewarding. Stake holders have to arrange for funds out of their own resources. Mumbai University will be the first Indian university to introduce langdi at the college level, for female students thus revitalising the traditional sport. 5 lakh female students study in the university in 700 colleges affiliated to it. C. N. Vidyamandir a school in Ahmedabad encourages participation in traditional sports such as langdi, these cost less money to play and are mentally and physically refreshing for children addicted to the electronic media and games. According to Mahesh Vichare writing in Maharashtra Times, English medium schools, both secular and those run by Christian institutions, in Mumbai, tend to neglect traditional sports like langdi. Chetan Chauhan, national president of Krida Bharati, has stressed that the organisation would endeavour to revitalise traditional sports like langdi in order to create healthy youngsters. Krida bharati is an organisation that promotes sport in India. According to Arun Deshmukh, recognition from the Indian Olympic Assoication is in the pipeline. This recognition results in facilities like concessional railway travel being made available, thus ensuring in growth of the sport.

Expatriate Indians have associated in the effort to popularise langdi out side, in countries such as Thailand. Video films of the sport being played have been prepared in order raise interest internationally.

Brief Rules
The rules of this sport have been standardised by the Akhil Maharashtra Sharirik Shikshan Mandal.

Langdi is a team sport between two sides, played 12 players a side, and an additional three extra players. A match lasts 36 minutes. It is played in four innings of nine minutes each. The team that wins the toss defends. The attacking team sends attackers who hop on one foot and try to tag the defenders. The attackers can step out of the ground as long as they keep on one foot. The defenders are declared out if they step out of the ground or commit a line fault. The team that tags most defenders is declared the winner.

National events
The fourth National Mens and Womens Langdi Championship were held in Chandigarh, in May 2013.