The spin magic

Frisbee players

Every childhood is stamped with the mark of a flying disc (Frisbee as we call it). It’s not alien to find people of all ages throwing the disc around parks, streets and terraces. It is a relatively simple game to understand and play — throw, run and catch. But Frisbee has now turned into a competitive sport and goes by the name ‘Ultimate’.

Although not popular in India yet,  this sport is slowly catching on. The City itself has a few teams that spend a large part of their week practising for national-level tournaments. If you have seen teams like  ‘Airbenders’, ‘Air Traffic Control’, ‘Disc-O-Deewane’, ‘Falcons’, ‘Learning to Fly’, ‘Spin Doctors’ or ‘Thatte Idli Kaal Soup’ in action, you’ll know they mean business. With quick, agile moves, accurate dives, perfect hand-eye co-ordination and tactical manoeuvring, the players have turned this childhood pass-time into an adventure.

While this seven-member sport resembles other popular games in many ways, it sits apart from the rest because of certain unique features. Speak to any ‘Ultimate’ player and they will tell you that it’s the freedom that comes with the game that attracts them to it. “Unlike other sports, ‘Ultimate’ doesn’t have a referee. It kindles a sense of sportsmanship in its players as they have to watch what they are doing,” says Manoj Iyengar, a student who plays for the ‘Falcons’. Maitreyi adds that this puts everyone on a level playing field.

It is also a sport that recognises different genders and allows for mixed teams. “It is a rule for every ‘Ultimate’ team to have at least three women on field. The ratio must always be 3:4. This brings about a sense of equality to the game,” adds Maitreyi Ananth, a youngster who is going to represent India in the U-23 team in London this year.

This inclusive community even allows people who have never held a disc in their hand a shot at playing professionally. Madhulika, a graphic designer who joined the ‘Airbenders’ nine months ago, says that she was never into sports until this.

“I had never played a sport in my life before ‘Ultimate’; I was more of an art lover. But when I saw the game being played, I was mesmerised. It looked so exciting! Although I have terrible hand-eye co-ordination and am not a good runner, I have many people who encourage me and help me get better.” People of different age groups have taken to playing the game as it not only acts as a stressbuster but also keeps them fit and active.

The teams usually practise three to four times a week, between 6 am and 8 am, and help each other out as much as possible. Dhatri, a student who has been playing ‘Ultimate’ for the past 10 years, says that while she does have an athletic background, her teammates help her get better. Manoj says that it is essential to keep fit, but sometimes it works the other way around. “When I play ‘Ultimate’ in the morning, the rest of my day goes well and I’m active throughout,” adds Madhulika.

Maitreyi, who plays for ‘Air Traffic Control’, has been playing since 2012. “I didn’t know about ‘Ultimate’ but six to seven of us would play the disc. Later, we met another team and were introduced to the game. Now I don’t play anything else.”
The U-23 team, who she’s currently training with, recently won the Nationals that took place in Bengaluru. The tournament saw 31 teams from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and more, a drastic rise from the 18 or so that took part last year.

Manoj, a former footballer, has spent the past four years on the game. “I used to play football but got attracted to ‘Ultimate’. It looks simple at first but there’s a lot of work that needs to be put in. Players need to learn how to judge each throw, manoeuvre around and not be violent. And they also need to take weather conditions in to account — our biggest enemy is the wind!” he laughs.It is not just the game that keeps people hooked, but the various opportunities that arise along the way. Dhatri says that it’s a sport where you get to meet many people, bond and learn with them, and travel the country.

While most ‘Ultimate’ players in India play on grass grounds, in Chennai, the teams practise on sand. “I’ve played on grass all my life and I find it easier to play on. People who play regularly on sand will be used to it but for others, it’s more difficult to move on,” says Maitreyi. While it is still popularly called Frisbee, ‘Ultimate’ is enticing more people to its midst.