Recently, the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) completed its historic 1000th Pro Kabaddi League match in Jaipur on Monday. On this momentous occasion, five legends of the sport – Anup Kumar, Dharmaraj Cheralathan, Ajay Thakur, Manjeet Chhillar, and Rishank Devadiga were all honored by the league. In recognition of their significant contributions over the past 10 seasons, the legends were presented with personalized mementos.
Speaking about the journey from Match 1 to 1000, Dharmaraj Cheralathan said that The Pro Kabaddi League’s journey has been magnificent. Many lives have changed because of the Pro Kabaddi League, and many lives will change in the future as well. Cheralathan also hopes that the players become even fitter in the future and have very long careers.
“The Pro Kabaddi League’s journey has been magnificent. Many lives have changed because of the Pro Kabaddi League and many lives will change in the future as well. I hope that the players become even more fitter in the future and have very long careers,” Cheralathan said.
The legendary defender, Manjeet Chillar also expressed his views and his willingness to play the ongoing tenth season. Manjeet said that Ajay Thakur had conveyed to him their plan to play the tenth season together, but Ajay retired before him. If Ajay had continued to play, they might have likely participated in that season. Manjeet expressed the hope that one day, the Pro Kabaddi League would reach one lakh matches, which would bring even more joy.
“I hope that we complete one lakh Pro Kabaddi League matches one day then I’ll be even happier. I wish that kabaddi becomes the number one sport in terms of viewership in the future,” Manjeet said.
The game has become very fast now: Anup Kumar
The legendary India captain and former captain cool of U Mumbai also said that the game has changed since the first-ever PKL match in 2014. The coaches now have a plethora of players to choose from for their teams. There is a backup for each player in every team in the Pro Kabaddi League. This provides players with ample opportunities to showcase their abilities.
“The game has become very fast now. And now the coaches have a lot of players to choose from in their teams. There’s a backup for each of the players in each of the teams in the Pro Kabaddi League. And the players get a lot of opportunities to show their mettle as well,” the World Cup winning captain said.
Speaking about the innovative rules introduced in PKL over the years, Ajay Thakur also remarked that the 30-second raid rule has been a great innovation in the game. Kabaddi being an injury-prone sport, it’s really beneficial that raids have a time limit of 30 seconds. Without a time limit, players wouldn’t be able to sustain long careers.
“The 30-second raid rule has been a great innovation in the game. Kabaddi is an injury-prone game so it’s really good that that raids have a time limit of 30 seconds. If there was no time limit then the players wouldn’t be able to have long careers,” Ajay Thakur said.
