‘Confident of bids in excess of ₹1 crore’

Kabaddi has become a future for the youth now, says Tomar

Nitin Tomar.

Nitin Tomar played a big part in India’s Kabaddi World Cup win last year, especially in the final against Iran and his sparkling performance did not go unnoticed. As a raider, Tomar won some big points.

When the ProKabaddi was expanded to 12 teams, the UP franchise GMR League Games bought him at a record Rs. 93 lakh. Coming into the Vivo ProKabaddi season 5 with 115 raid points, the 22-year-old Tomar has added another 26 in the four matches he has played for UP Yoddha. And his team has won three out is four matches in Zone B.

Good environment

Speaking to The Hindu on Sunday, Tomar said ProKabaddi and STAR Sports have given a big lift to the game. “The environment is very good now. Clubs have started mushrooming even in the villages of Baghpat District where people did not know about kabaddi and did not have facilities.

“The KBD Juniors programme is good. It is shown on STAR Sports on Mondays. Schools are setting aside time for playing kabaddi. The game has become a

bhavishya (future) for the youth now. They can make a career out of it.’’

The 22-year-old Indian Navy employee is convinced that franchises will go to the extent of offering Rs. 1 crore and more at the next ProKabaddi auction. “Yes...

bilkul (certainly). This year it was ₹7 lakh short of 1 crore. I am confident there will be a few successful bids in excess of ₹1 crore at the next auction. At least five or six players will get there.

“When ProKabaddi started, the highest bid was ₹12.5 lakh. This game is linked to our soil, it’s a 40-minute game, a damdhar (strong) game. And the public like to see the sport and enjoy it. This is the USP of kabaddi.”

No pressure

Tomar doesn’t believe he is weighed down by the pressure to perform. “I don’t get a feeling that I am under pressure. The coach also told me not to take pressure. If I do that, because I was bought for ₹93 lakh, I will not be able to deliver.

“If one has a free mind, he will be able to even improve his game. But a player is always under pressure and sometimes you tend to think what will the fans think if you don’t perform. Here I am also the captain, but we forget all pressure once we get into a game.”

UP Yoddha and Tomar are looking forward to playing matches at Lucknow. “Support at Lucknow will be massive for the team. Uttar Pradesh is a big State. Once we get the support, the team’s confidence levels will rise. We will definitely have home advantage.”’