Players of the Indonesian and the US teams during a match at Patliputra Sporting Complex in Patna on Friday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, March 2: The Indian team may be a strong contender for the top slot at the 1st Women’s World Cup Kabbadi but Indian cuisine has already won the hearts and tastebuds of international players.

While some players from the land of pasta and pizza have taken a liking for dum aloo and dal tadka, others have taken to chicken tandoori and chicken curry.

Italian kabaddi player Solange Santarelli told The Telegraph: “In Italy, chicken scarpariello and chicken marsala are favourite dishes. But Indian dishes like chicken tandoori and chicken curry are no less tasty.”

The Hindi student of Ca’ Foscari University in Venice said the spicy texture of Indian cuisine make it more attractive to the palate.

Their Mexican counterparts, too, enjoy the Indian delicacies. “As you know Mexican food is a little spicy. So we love the hot Indian dishes served to us,” said Ana Alejandea, a Mexican player. Her favourites are chilli paneer and dal.

Asked if she knew about Bihar prior to her visit to the state, the MBA student said: “I had learnt about Bihar on the Internet. I know that the world’s oldest university (Nalanda) was in Bihar.”

Alejandea said she was excited to learn that Nalanda University was being revived with the help of international aid. She said: “I am excited that I will get to visit Nalanda and Bodhgaya as well as other Buddhist sites.”

For some international players, Indian cuisine is no different from what they eat at home. The trip to Bihar is a sort of homecoming for many players of the Canadian and the US teams.

Satvinder Singh, the manager of the Canadian team, said: “Most of the players playing in our team are of Indian origin. Kabaddi reached Canada when a large number of people from India, especially Punjab, settled in the North American country. Indian cuisine is nothing new in Canada — samosa and kebabs are very popular there.”

Besides food, some international players also decided to take the opportunity to catch up with their traditions. Players of the US team visited Takht Shri Harmandir Sahib in Patna City.