New Delhi, May 25 -- Mallakhamb is one of the oldest traditional sports in India and it is alive and kicking in the heart of Chhattisgarh's Bastar district. If there is a classic case study to establish the transformative power of sports and its social impact, here's the story of Manoj Kumar and his protege Rakesh Kumar Varda.

Manoj Prasad is a living example of how sports can bring about social change in troubled Naxal-infested regions of central India. Prasad, an STF (Special Task Force) officer, runs the Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy in Narayanpur.

Uniquely, chirldren from tribal communities are enrolled here and Prasad is like a father figure to them. He takes care of all expenses from accommodation to meals and equipment for training...