The individual ability to tackle down a player or endure a forceful impact is usually considered among the lesser important prerequisites for a Kabaddi player. Most players solely rely on technique and skill to manoeuvre their way on the mat.
But the fact remains that in a sport like Kabaddi, a team that possess a powerful individual always has an edge over the other sides. We look at players who pose a threat with their mere presence on the mat.
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#1 Fazel Atrachali
“Wrestling is really famous in Iran. He is naturally very powerful” is how Jeeva Kumar described Atrachali. The Iranian isn’t the tallest player in the league and isn’t the biggest either. Yet, his ability to take down an opposition raider on his own is second to none.
The diminutive defender compliments his hawk-like vision with some impeccable power tackles. When Atrachali gets hold of you, there’s no way out. You will be trapped, come what may.
Positioned at the left corner, he’s the one who initiates the move when his side is defending. Within microseconds, he glides across from left to right, making sure he confines the raider deep in his own half and then delivers a ripping body blow. Fazel’s raw strength shines through on most nights.
#2 Dharmaraj Cheralathan
At 42 years old, it seems a bit disrespectful to call out Dharmaraj Sir by only his first name. There’s no other way to put it, Anna, as he is affectionately called by his teammates, is a physical specimen. The oldest player in the league is also the strongest player. It speaks volumes about his dedication towards the game.
Yet despite his humungous torso, you’ll rarely find Dharmaraj recklessly diving into a tackle. He possibly could, just for the sake of instilling fear in the opposition. But he’s too much of a gentleman to do that. You can spot the veins in his biceps even from the cheapest ticket in the stadium.
#3 Vishal Mane
Maharashtra’s very own will play for the Patna Pirates this season. The reigning champions did well to replace one bulldozer (Atrachali) with another. Once considered as the bedrock of Mumbai’s defensive line, Mane relishes a well-executed physical confrontation on the mat.
What he lacks in speed, he makes up for with his humungous torso and sheer brute force. You’d be wise not to get in Mane’s way when he’s about to go all in with his reckless yet equally effective body blow. At times, he’s a bit wayward with his timings, but when he gets it right, it’s a sight to behold.
He may not be the most technically gifted player in the league, but his unorthodox tackles do the job.
#4 Jeeva Kumar
It’s not hard to figure out the reason behind Jeeva Kumar’s robust frame. At 36 years of age, the veteran defender has shown no signs of slowing down. Back in 2016, Kumar shared with Sportskeeda a secret which has ensured his body remains in peak condition. Unlike most of us, he only consumes organic vegetables when he’s at home.
“Today’s foods contain chemicals. Step by step it affects the condition of the body. Even the body size decreases”. Organic farming is the reason behind Kumar’s impressive body and strength. For all the calm demeanour he exudes off the mat, Kumar displays absolutely no care for his opponents when he dives in for his vintage power tackles.
#5 Rahul Chaudhari
Chaudhari’s addition to the list may come as a surprise to some. But consider this, the stellar raider has till date, attempted 957 raids, of which only 385 have been successful. While 411 of them have been empty raids, 161 out of those 957 have been unsuccessful – times when he’s attempted a raid but has been tackled.
Being the most successful raider in the league comes at a price.
On an average, Chaudhari gets physically tackled more than any other raider in the league. He has to be extremely sturdy and staunch to endure each one of those hard-hitting tackles, as they keep accumulating with every match.
“Look I am from a village. Want good recovery? You know eating Gulab Jamun helps a lot”, he told us.
