“It’s incredible. I mean we were always the best in the world in kabaddi but people hardly knew about us. Every one or two years, when we would win the Asian Games or the World Chamionships, some of you (the media) would cover us and then we will return to being oblivious,” said Head Coach Honappa C Gowda.
“That’s not the case anymore- everyone in the country knows about the league and the players have become household names. We couldn’t have imagined this a few years back.”
Senior player and star raider Surjeet Narwal feels the league has brought about a sense of ambition amongst the youth, a belief that they make a living out of the sport and that, as he emphasises is extremely important.
“See, earlier we knew we had to do really well to get a job. Be it in the Railways or the Air Force or some other place; that was what we aspired for. Even if you represented the country, you would still need to rely on your job to make a living,” he said.
“This league however has changed that, kids now aspire to play for the franchisees – they think it can bring them recognition and money, both at the same time, and they are right too.”
Echoing similar sentiments Maharasthra’s Dadaso Awad added, “None of us thought it would get this big but now that it has, we are all excited.”
“Sirf ache hi nahin bahut ache din aa gaye,” they gleam with joy.
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