As I glanced over my shoulder to scan the crowd at Bengaluru’s Shree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, I could see a passionate section of Puneri Paltan fans, cheering for their team incessantly ahead of the clash against Patna Pirates.
The Paltan are among the only two teams who have been a part of the league since its inception but do not have any silverware in their cabinet. That, however, did not discourage their fans, as their hopes were rekindled last season with the emergence of two new stars – Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat.
The duo racked up a combined 376 points in Pro Kabaddi League season 8, helping their team qualify for the eliminators after two seasons. What transpired in the match corroborated the faith fans showed in the raiding pair, as they scored 15 of their team’s 34 points in the draw against Patna.
The voices of the Puneri fans were not as loud in their second match, as they faced the home team, Bengaluru Bulls. Yet, both Aslam and Mohit put in a shift and a half, combining to score 23 of their team’s 39 points, albeit the outcome did not go in their favour.
Aslam, the 23-year-old raider possessing consummate dexterity, hails from Taklibhan, a small village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar. Mohit, Aslam’s partner-in-crime, is a 21-year-old nascent star in the Kabaddi fraternity, who comes from a village called Bhaini Kungar in Haryana.
Their houses are separated by over 1300 kilometres, yet, Aslam and Mohit are two sides of the same coin, two chapters of the same book – one that tells tales of challenging all odds and exploring uncharted territories.
The Journey From Village to PKL
As Aslam occupied a chair beside the crystal clear swimming pool of a five-star hotel in Bengaluru for an interview with The Quint, he reminisced how water would have a very dissimilar connotation for him during his childhood. Droplets of rain would seep through the roof of his house whenever it rained, but it only made him more unyielding in his path.
Speaking about his roots, the 23-year-old said “I was raised in a village, and started my journey with my local club. I didn’t have much idea about the sport and what one can achieve from it.”
“It was my captain, Raju Kathore, who took me to the Jai Bajrang Club in Thane, and that was the turning point of my career. From there I went to Air India, and eventually made it to PKL through Puneri Paltan,” Aslam informed us.
Mohit, who had taken a seat next to Aslam, could relate to his teammate's journey, as he too had charted a similar path. “My journey is similar, with my roots being in a small village from Bhiwani, a district in Haryana. Kids older than me used to play Kabaddi, which got me hooked on the sport. It was at a K7 tournament in Haryana where I performed well and caught the attention of Puneri Paltan’s coach, who called me for a trial – that’s how I made it to this team.” he stated.
Aslam, who Mohit referred to as the most talkative member and the biggest prankster of the team, would not face any hindrances in his Kabaddi journey from his family. However, knowing well the financial situation of the family, his elder brother would rather have Aslam study.
“My family was supportive, except that my brother was very concerned about my future. When he would see me playing, he would take me out of the field and put me to study. However, that did not stop me. I would practice daily, would not miss a session,” he recollects.
Mohit sported a smile, as in this one aspect, his story is not in synchronization with his partner’s. “Mine was a bit different because I was not as focused in the initial days and used to skip practice. My family always encouraged me to stop being irregular, and since then, they have always been supportive,” he informs.
The ‘Ek Number Jodi’ Is Ready To Shine Again
Unlike the last season, they are not unknown players anymore. The coaches and analysts in each team will closely watch their video clips and develop their strategy accordingly, but that does not faze either.
On being asked about what they are planning to do differently this season, Aslam said “We are also making changes to our tactics, developing new skills. You will get to see it in the coming matches.”
The camaraderie between the two was discernible. As we reach the inevitable question of their bonding, a beaming smile spread across the faces of both. Giving Aslam a high-five, Mohit said “Jodi to ek number hai (the bonding is excellent).”
Aslam supported the Haryana-born player by saying “I can’t even describe how strong our friendship is. Yahaan to kaafi saare bolte rahte hain ki ye joodi tutega nahin, last tak chalega (Here, many say that this bond between us is unbreakable, it will last an eternity). Some even call us brothers.”
Indeed, the sport has brought together two young talents who hailed from different states but have shared similar journeys. Now, as they eradicate their hardships, Aslam and Mohit vow to not let anything deter them from their path.
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