'We Had VIP Darshan at Lalbaug'

The inaugural Pro Kabaddi League came to an end with the Jaipur Pink Panthers outclassing the home team U Mumba 35-24 in front of the packed NSCI Indoor Stadium on Sunday. The league, which was started to popularise the sport, was a major hit considering the competitive spirit seen across all the games. Not to mention the crowd support.

The life of the players has changed. They are superstars in their own right. Navneet Gautam the Pink Panthers skipper said: ¡°We went to Lalbaugcha Raja without wearing Pink Panthers jersey. The authorities recognised us and we had VIP Darshan.¡±

Gautam said it was very heartening to see so many people smiling and instantly recognising you. At the airports people are asking for the pictures of the stars. This is an uncharted territory for the kabaddi players.

As the Pink Panthers were celebrating their win, 24-year-old Maninder Singh ¨C one of the stars for his team ¨C told that winning the Pro Kabaddi League has been the biggest achievement of his career so far. ¡°I am happy that people have started to recognise me. Fans now chant my name during the match which motivates me and makes me feel good,¡± said ¡®Mani¡¯ as he is popularly called.

The Jaipur team lifted the owner Abhishek Bachchan on their shoulders after beating U Mumba on Sunday. ¡°He¡¯s like our elder brother and has given us motivation to perform,¡± said skipper Gautam after the game.

Abhishek Bachchan refused to call himself an ¡°owner¡± of the team. ¡°I¡¯m not the owner of this team. I¡¯m just a family member,¡± said Bachchan junior. He narrated an incident where the entire team went to the defender Prashant Chavan¡¯s home for Ganpati in Kalyan. Abhishek said the fans gathered at Chavan¡¯s place and cheered for the team. ¡°He (Prashant) told me ¡®Dada I¡¯m going to win it for you,¡¯¡± said Abhishek.

Abhishek lauded the effort of his team who were so passionate that they didn¡¯t pay heed to the injuries they had.

Was this the biggest moment for Gautam in his life? ¡°The biggest moment of my life came in 2007 when I was given the Arjuna Award by the President of India. That is the ultimate recognition for a sportsman. But this league has given recognition to our sport. That¡¯s why this is the best time to be a kabaddi player. This has sure been life-changing experience for our players and all the others who were part of the league,¡± Gautam told Indiatimes.

Kabaddi revolution has kickstarted in India for sure.