Kabaddi Kabaddi, TMT TMT!

I remember watching my first Asian Games in 1990 Beijing. It was India’s poorest show ever with just 1 gold (contrasting to the 28 it won in 2022 Hangzhou). But there was one silver lining, India’d won in Kabaddi. It began a 32-year dominance of the sport where India’s now won 8/9 of the Men’s golds and 3/4 of the women’s. Kabaddi, ever since, is the showstopper of the Indian contingent. There have been times when athletics, hockey, shooting and other sports have also shone for India, but none at par ever with Kabaddi.

The only time any team ever came close in Kabaddi was Iran in 2018 Jakarta when they won both the men’s and women’s. But India was prompt to win back both last time around in 2022 Hangzhou.

Back home at @OfBusiness, our Kabaddi is our team in TMT (Steel) in more ways than one. Much like Beijing, even when we were at our smallest (in the early years), we would always shine through in TMT. As the market leaders.

There are other teams like Chemicals, Polymers, Flats, Copper and Aluminum that have shone as well but none as evergreen as TMT. There was a brief period in 2024-2025 when we were challenged by a large competitor, but we were prompt to win the crown back in a year.

Much like the Indian team, the key to our success in TMT has been our ability to attract the best of youth to the team. The TMT leadership is always young and homegrown at OfBusiness, mostly fresh from campuses. The 2026 representative leadership team is in the inset, comprising youngsters raring to go. As the previous batch of freshers moves on to larger roles, the new batch comes in, learns the trade and delivers. Almost factory like.

It’s doubly helpful that there’s money and glamour in Kabaddi now, with the inclusion of Pro Kabaddi League. Back home, we too have now gone into making our own TMT labels at OfBusiness (Sangam and Bison), where we grab both more money balls and purse strings.

As the India team leaves for Aichi-Nagoya 2026 (and we enter the “real” TMT season in H2, FY27), here’s wishing more golds to both. And to the other sportsmen, as India aims for its best show ever in the 75^th anniversary of the Asiads. Jai Hind!

Once an OFBIan, forever one:

Asish Mohapatra