You answer a few questions and get a crore. That’s how India’s successful game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), was marketed. Deeply embedded in pop culture, from the Academy Award-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” to Bollywood films like “Sector 26,” this quiz show has seen many take home the coveted crore. In 2024, however, eruptions of excitement are heard beyond the KBC studio, resonating through the arenas of another quintessentially Indian spectacle: the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Here, kabaddi players from all corners of rural India are making headlines and raking in crores with their remarkable performances.
This season, as PKL kickstarts, the excitement is palpable. Frantic fans await to cheer their favorite players and teams in this fast-paced contact sport. Among these celebrated athletes, several players have already secured hefty contracts in crores, promising thrilling performances in the weeks ahead.
Sachin Tanwar, landing a staggering Rs 2.15 crore contract with Tamil Thalaivas, has become a name synonymous with kabaddi excellence. Hailing from Badbar village in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, Sachin describes his rise to prominence as nothing short of a “wild dream come true.” His journey into the sport began in his childhood, sneaking away from school to join his family in local kabaddi matches. Supported by family members like his uncle and elder brother Deepak, Sachin was permitted to skip school as long as his performance on the field was noteworthy. This passion for the game led him to represent India in the 2016 Junior Asian Championship, marking the debut of his renowned career that has since flourished.
As Sachin joins Tamil Thalaivas, his optimism is apparent. “This is a team game, and the team we get into becomes our family,” he asserts, eager to immerse himself in Tamil culture and contribute to his new team’s success. Off the kabaddi mats, Sachin relishes in farming on family lands, a testament to his rootedness and modesty despite his rapidly ascending fame.
Guman Singh is another star to watch, shining brightly on the PKL horizons with the Gujarat Giants.
. Idolizing iconic sportsmen like Virat Kohli, Guman’s initial aspirations were set on cricket. However, destiny had a different plan for this young lad from Sherpur village in Haryana’s Gurgaon district. Introduced to kabaddi by his uncle, Guman left home at the tender age of 15 to hone his skills at the Narwal Kabaddi and Sports Academy. His dedication and talent soon facilitated his entry into the PKL, fulfilling his dream of playing on television and showcasing his skills to family and friends.
Today, at 25, Guman attributes much of his personal and professional growth to the league. With a Rs 1.97 crore contract by Gujarat Giants this season, he’s been able to secure a railway job and build a home for his family. “Kabaddi has taught me discipline,” he notes, confident about the sport’s trajectory in India, comparing its popularity to that of cricket within the nation.
Meanwhile, Maninder Singh holds fast as a formidable figure in the Bengal Warriors team. Hailing from Panwan village in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, Maninder has spent countless hours mastering the art of raiding on local mitti grounds. Today, he effortlessly translates those skills to the grand arenas of national kabaddi, where he enjoys tremendous success, including two PKL trophies. He’s retained by the Bengal Warriors for Rs 1.15 crore, valuing this stability and financial security as motivation for further excellence in the sport.
Motivated by mentors like Ran Singh Raniya in his maiden season, Maninder reflects on the progressive nuance and intensity mat surfaces offer to his raiding style. He affirms kabaddi’s potential for growth and prominence, drawing comparisons to cricket in terms of viewership and excitement. Envisioning the game’s trajectory, Maninder boldly predicts that, by 2034, kabaddi could rival cricket in popularity, citing its dynamic nature and recent rule alterations as driving forces behind this surge.
As the Pro Kabaddi League commences on October 18, hosted across Hyderabad, Noida, and Pune over the coming weeks, enthusiasts can catch every breathtaking moment on Star Sports Network, Star Sports 1 Tamil, and Disney+Hotstar. The stage is set for kabaddi, reflecting not just a sport but a burgeoning segment of rural India’s journey into eminent global sporting prominence.
