'I Am Ready For Season 12:' Aslam Inamdar Set For PKL Comeback
As the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 player auction approaches on May 31-June 1 in Mumbai, Aslam Inamdar stands as a symbol of determination. The versatile all-rounder, retained by Puneri Paltan, is ready to make his comeback after a challenging Season 11 that saw him play just seven matches before suffering a season-ending knee injury. "For a Kabaddi athlete, injury is a common issue - it's a part of life and an important part of the game," reflects Aslam. "I believe a player is truly recognized only when he shows his potential after an injury, how he prepares himself and makes himself fit."
The 25-year-old suffered a meniscus tear in his knee that required surgical intervention. "I made a decision that I had to recover quickly. It has been six months now, and I have recovered properly. I am ready for Season 12," he declares confidently.
Aslam's absence was keenly felt by Puneri Paltan in Season 11. The team that had conquered PKL in Season 10 with him as captain could only manage an 8th place finish. "I was able to play seven matches, and until then, my team was at the top of the table in Season 11," Aslam recalls. "When I was ruled out, my team's confidence level went down, I feel, and that affected our performance."
What sets Aslam apart is his deep connection with the Puneri Paltan franchise, a relationship spanning five seasons since Season 7. He started in their youth academy, 'Yuva Paltan', and went on to captain the team to glory.
In the PKL, he has scored 545 points from 70 matches and picked up 38 points in seven matches in Season 11 before his unfortunate injury.
"I have had a lot of trust in Puneri Paltan - I can say it's unbelievable for me," he shares. "The owner talks to me about every situation. After my injury, he has treated me like family. He still says that I am his captain and will always be his captain."
As teams prepare for the auctions, Aslam expects fierce competition. "The upcoming Season 12 auction will be challenging and competitive because a lot of big names have come into the auction list. A player can go up to 2 crores, making it more competitive than ever."
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Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
Pro Kabaddi at 12: A league that's growing by leaps and bounds
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Also read: How kabaddi went from a game of strength to one of speed For a league that started under reasonable scepticism, a 12th season itself is evidence of accomplishment considering no other sporting league, barring the Indian Premier League (IPL) in cricket, has survived this long. Star Sports, which owns a majority stake in the league, declared its season 10 viewership to be over 225 million, making it the only sport besides cricket to get those kinds of numbers. Stakeholders in the league credit the sport's indigenous origins to its popularity, besides the brevity of matches, the athleticism of its exponents, the overall packaging of the league by the broadcaster, for its success. Broadcast is one of the biggest reasons for any sport or league to be followed and it helps PKL that Star Sports has a stake in it. 'Since the broadcaster has a sizeable control over the league, now Jio Star… You need a strong broadcasting partner because the reach of such games is important. 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One should be quick to readjust. The league is always about supply of talent, how you build your teams with multiple seasons in mind, which gives all 12 teams an equal chance." The equality among the teams, some believe, adds to the league's popularity because it makes the PKL result difficult to predict. A title, however, adds to a team's brand value and popularity. 'Makes a difference to the base definitely, as we get more traction," says Kailash Kandpal, the chief executive officer of Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd which owns the Puneri Paltan team in the PKL, while talking about the team's first title win in 2023. 'It impacts the popularity of the team; expectation then rises from fans, from sponsors, from the promoters of the team. We then need a repeat performance. You got to have it, if you are a champion, you have to win many times." 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India Gazette
3 days ago
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Haryana Steelers assemble formidable squad at PKL 12 auctions as they aim to defend the elusive title
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India Today
3 days ago
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