9 state players find place in kabaddi league
JAIPUR: DEEPAK HUDDA, THE COSTLIER PLAYER IN THE PKL, WAS BOUGHT BY JAIPUR PINK PANTHERS FOR RS 1.15 CRORE
Nine players from Rajasthan will show their mettle in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), to be ornganised at various locations in the country from October 19.
Out of the nine, seven players are from Jaipur district, and one each from Churu and Kaurali districts.
The costlier player in the PKL is also from Rajasthan. Deepak Hudda was bought by Jaipur Pink Panthers for Rs 1.15 crore. He played for Puneri Pultan in the last edition after being bought for Rs 73 lakh.
Apart from him, Rajulal Choudhary, Kamal Kishore and Mahendra Dhaka, who are all from Jaipur and work with the Rajasthan Police, have also found place in the PKL.
Rajasthan Kabaddi Association (RKA) president Tejasvi Gehlot said that a total 12 franchisees bought 435 players for PKLSeason-6. For the first time nine players were chosen from Rajasthan in the league, he said, adding that Hudda is the highest bid player in a discipline other than cricket.
Total 25 players were in contention from Rajasthan. Sachin and Rajulal Choudhary are among the Indian probables for the six-nation kabaddi tournament in Dubai. “Yes, I think both will be selected in the Indian team,” said Gehlot.
Gehlot said, “The game of Kabaddi is being played on mat at the international level. So, we have decided that next time we would organise sub-junior, junior and senior level tournaments on mat.”
“The association would provide shoes (to the players), which is necessary for the mat,” he added.
He said Deepak Hudda will give strength to Jaipur Pink Panthers. Apart from him, combination of Anup Kumar, Mohit Chillar and some other players is good, he added.
Hudda said, “I would like to give full marks to Asian Kabaddi Federation president Janardan Singh Gehlot, who brought the kabaddi on this stage.”
“I belong to Haryana, but have always played for Rajasthan at the sub-junior, junior and senior level,” he added.
On his selection, Hudda said, “I feel more responsibility, but do not feel any pressure.”
“I hope we would be champion of the league,” he added
Rajasthani players in PKL teams – Deepak Hudda (Jaipur Pink Panthers-1.15 crore), Wajir Singh (Haryana Stealers-20 lakh), Sachin (Gujarat Fortunejiants-56.87 lakh), Raju Lal Choudhary (Bangluru Bulls-8.80 lakh), Mahendra Singh Dhaka (Bangluru Bulls-8 lakh), Kamal Kishore Jat (Dabang Delhi-8 lakh), Mahendra Singh Rajput (Gujarat Fortunejiants-24.55 lakh), Vijendra Singh (Jaipur Pink Panthers-5.60 lakh) and Bhuvneshwar Gaur (Haryana Stealers-5 lakh).