You reply just a few questions and get a crore.

That’s how India’s profitable Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) was marketed. Referenced in popular culture, proper from the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire to the latest Bollywood movie Sector 26, this recreation present gave a crore to its triumphant contestants.

In 2024, some spirited kabaddi gamers from throughout the nation have already bagged a crore, however they must give fairly just a few solutions within the weeks to return. All eyes are on their performances within the Professional Kabaddi League (PKL), kickstarting this week, whilst sports activities followers get set to cheer their favorite groups on this fast-paced contact sport.

Sachin Tanwar – Tamil Thalaivas

Sachin is not going to neglect August 15, 2024. Even because the public sale bids for PKL 2024 flew quick that day, an emotional Sachin ended up being the costliest participant, becoming a member of the Tamil Thalaivas for a whopping 2.15 crores.

For Sachin Tanwar, hailing from Badbar village in Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan, it was a “wild dream come true.” A famend identify within the Indian kabaddi ecosystem now, his tryst with the game began a very long time in the past, when he as soon as bunked college to play kabaddi. “My uncle, my elder brother Deepak… everybody within the household used to play kabaddi. I’d be spared for bunking college if I performed the sport nicely,” he laughs.

He did. After representing India within the 2016 Junior Asian Championship, Sachin debuted within the PKL, impressing all along with his raiding abilities, and in addition went to change into a key a part of India’s profitable kabaddi campaigns. “It makes us really feel proud that such a rural contact sport, performed on filth floor, is getting preferred in city India.”

The 26-year-old is wanting ahead to enjoying nicely for the Tamil Thalaivas this season. “It is a group recreation, and the group we get into turns into our household,” says Sachin, promising to study extra than simply ‘vanakkam’ and ‘saptiya’ throughout his stint right here within the coming weeks.

When he isn’t enjoying kabaddi, what does he do? “We’re a household of farmers. You’ll discover me busy in my farm within the village, cultivating crops.”

Guman Singh – Gujarat Giants

Guman Singh

Virat Kohli has at all times been Guman’s favorite sportsman. Watching him play all these swashbucking cowl drives and pulls, a younger Guman – rising up in Sherpur village in Gurgaon (Haryana) – dreamt of enjoying cricket and audiences following his video games on TV.

Part of that dream has come true, however Guman is now a rising star in one other sport – kabbadi – within the PKL. “My uncle launched me to the game and I used to be fascinated,” says Guman, who at 15, left residence to coach on the Narwal Kabaddi and Sports activities Academy in Haryana and was quickly inducted into the league.

“I beloved watching kabaddi on TV. I wished my household and buddies to additionally watch me play on the massive display,” recollects Guman.

Now 25, Guman credit PKL for reworking his life, enabling him to construct a home for his household and securing a Railways job. He was snapped up for Rs 1.97 crore by Gujarat Giants this season, one thing that offers him an ideal confidence increase. “Kabaddi has taught me self-discipline,” he says, including, “The game is right here to remain and develop. It’s among the many highest-watched sports activities in India, after cricket.”

Maninder Singh – Bengal Warriors

Maninder Singh

Manider Singh was a daily within the mitti grounds of Panwan village in Hoshiarpur (Punjab). There, he has performed many kabaddi matches, at all times being aggressive and incomes a reputation of being a harmful raider, a participant that opponents dreaded.

He’s, right now, utilizing his raiding abilities on the nationwide stage. As some of the profitable raiders within the PKL, with two trophies to his identify, Maninder resides the dream. “I’m used to enjoying on soil in my village. Whereas enjoying on a mat floor, the sport is quicker and extra thrilling. We raiders get extra acceleration on such surfaces,” he says.

He credit senior kabaddi participant, Ran Singh Raniya, with whom he performed in his first season, with lots of his success right now. “Raniya paaji taught me varied strategies of the game. When he’s by my aspect, I play with none stress,” he says.

The captain of Bengal Warriors since 2019, Maninder was retained by the group for Rs 1.15 crores this season. “We all know that if we play nicely in a season, we’ll receives a commission higher within the subsequent. Kabaddi additionally ensures lots of us gamers jobs and thus, helps us get into the suitable mind set to practise for the league,” he says.

Maninder has an attention-grabbing prediction: that by 2034, kabaddi will change into as in style as cricket in India. “It’s a shorter period recreation, whereas cricket is kind of longer. Crowds will certainly pour into the stadiums and make it full. Additionally, as in comparison with earlier, the gamers now are extra skillful and the brand new rule modifications have helped the game develop. Who is aware of, it’d surpass the recognition of cricket someday.”

The Professional Kabaddi League, kickstarting on October 18, is scheduled to happen in Hyderabad, Noida and Pune within the coming weeks. Watch it on Star Sports activities Community, Star Sports activities 1 Tamil and Disney+Hotstar.