You answer a few questions and get a crore. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s how India\u2019s successful Kaun Banega Crorepati<\/i> (KBC) was marketed. Referenced in pop culture, right from the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire<\/i> to the recent Bollywood film Sector 26<\/i>, this game show gave a crore to its triumphant contestants.<\/p>\n
In 2024, some spirited kabaddi players from across the country have already bagged a crore, but they will have to give quite a few answers in the weeks to come. All eyes are on their performances in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), kickstarting this week, even as sports fans get set to cheer their favourite teams in this fast-paced contact sport. <\/p>\n
Sachin Tanwar \u2013 Tamil Thalaivas<\/b><\/p>\n
Sachin will not forget August 15, 2024. Even as the auction bids for PKL 2024 flew fast that day, an emotional Sachin ended up being the most expensive player, joining the Tamil Thalaivas for a whopping 2.15 crores.<\/p>\n
For Sachin Tanwar, hailing from Badbar village in Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan, it was a \u201cwild dream come true.\u201d A renowned name in the Indian kabaddi ecosystem now, his tryst with the sport started a long time ago, when he once bunked school to play kabaddi. \u201cMy uncle, my elder brother Deepak… everyone in the family used to play kabaddi. I would be spared for bunking school if I played the game well,\u201d he laughs. <\/p>\n
He did. After representing India in the 2016 Junior Asian Championship, Sachin debuted in the PKL, impressing all with his raiding skills, and also went to become a key part of India\u2019s successful kabaddi campaigns. \u201cIt makes us feel proud that such a rural contact sport, played on dirt ground, is getting liked in urban India.\u201d <\/p>\n
The 26-year-old is looking forward to playing well for the Tamil Thalaivas this season. \u201cThis is a team game, and the team we get into becomes our family,\u201d says Sachin, promising to learn more than just \u2018vanakkam<\/i>\u2019 and \u2018saptiya<\/i>\u2019 during his stint here in the coming weeks. <\/p>\n
When he is not playing kabaddi, what does he do? \u201cWe are a family of farmers. You\u2019ll find me busy in my farm in the village, cultivating crops.\u201d <\/p>\n
Guman Singh \u2013 Gujarat Giants<\/b><\/p>\n \nGuman Singh\n<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Virat Kohli has always been Guman\u2019s favourite sportsman. Watching him play all those swashbucking cover drives and pulls, a young Guman \u2013 growing up in Sherpur village in Gurgaon (Haryana) \u2013 dreamt of playing cricket and audiences following his games on TV.<\/p>\n A part of that dream has come true, but Guman is now a rising star in another sport \u2013 kabbadi \u2013 in the PKL. \u201cMy uncle introduced me to the sport and I was fascinated,\u201d says Guman, who at 15, left home to train at the Narwal Kabaddi and Sports Academy in Haryana and was soon inducted into the league. <\/p>\n \u201cI loved watching kabaddi on TV. I wanted my family and friends to also watch me play on the big screen,\u201d recalls Guman.<\/p>\n Now 25, Guman credits PKL for transforming his life, enabling him to build a house for his family and securing a Railways job. He was snapped up for Rs 1.97 crore by Gujarat Giants this season, something that gives him a great confidence boost. \u201cKabaddi has taught me discipline,\u201d he says, adding, \u201cThe sport is here to stay and grow. It is among the highest-watched sports in India, after cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n Maninder Singh \u2013 Bengal Warriors<\/b><\/p>\n \nManinder Singh\n<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Manider Singh was a regular in the mitti <\/i>grounds of Panwan village in Hoshiarpur (Punjab). There, he has played many kabaddi matches, always being aggressive and earning a name of being a dangerous raider, a player that opponents dreaded.<\/p>\n He is, today, using his raiding skills at the national level. As one of the most successful raiders in the PKL, with two trophies to his name, Maninder is living the dream. \u201cI am used to playing on soil in my village. While playing on a mat surface, the game is faster and more exciting. We raiders get more acceleration on such surfaces,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n He credits senior kabaddi player, Ran Singh Raniya, with whom he played in his first season, with a lot of his success today. \u201cRaniya paaji<\/i> taught me various techniques of the sport. When he is by my side, I play without any stress,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n The captain of Bengal Warriors since 2019, Maninder was retained by the team for Rs 1.15 crores this season. \u201cWe know that if we play well in a season, we will get paid better in the next. Kabaddi also ensures a lot of us players jobs and thus, helps us get into the right frame of mind to practise for the league,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Maninder has an interesting prediction: that by 2034, kabaddi will become as popular as cricket in India. \u201cIt\u2019s a shorter duration game, whereas cricket is quite longer. Crowds will definitely pour into the stadiums and make it full. Also, as compared to earlier, the players now are more skillful and the new rule changes have helped the sport grow. Who knows, it might surpass the popularity of cricket one day.\u201d<\/p>\n The Pro Kabaddi League, kickstarting on October 18, is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad, Noida and Pune in the coming weeks. Watch it on Star Sports Network, Star Sports 1 Tamil and Disney+Hotstar.<\/i><\/p>\n![\"Guman](\"https:\/\/th-i.thgim.com\/public\/entertainment\/movies\/l950xl\/article68764401.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/Gujarat%20Giants%20Guman%20Singh%20during%20a%20training%20session..JPG\" "\\"Guman")
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