Pro Kabbadi League had ended around 10:30-11 pm with Delhi Dabang team winning the final against Patna Pirates by a solitary point. It was a three month tournament with strict bio bubble protocal and no fans were allowed. Still whatever fewer matches I saw there was no drop in intensity from players ,and no backing away from tackle.
Every one would believe that winning team to have a gala time and would enjoy. But players had started to reach Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru in morning in batches and were taking the flights to respective destination.
I was travelling to my hometown on occasion of Maha Shivratri and saw some players from Delhi Dabang team waiting for boarding announcement. Sandeep Narwal was sitting with his colleagues and I was amazed to see them sitting on Sofa’s without any attention. There was rush at airport but no one was even talking with them. Reason might be due to lack of knowledge about Kabaddi or busy with their own lives. How popular kabaddi is wrt other sports in country, I got feeling that people don’t even know these guys.
I was shy initially but then had a small chat with Sandeep Narwal. I asked him about how they plan for a game and how would team take narrow loss in game. He told that have to put in whole hearted effort and then luck factor is always there. They were looking tired so stopped the chat abruptly to let them take rest.
On boarding Bengaluru -Delhi flight ,saw a person sitting four rows in front of my seat. The guy was wearing a mask and but just by his look it got clear that he was none other than Pawan Sehrawat. Like Sandeep Narwal, he was humble with body language and down to earth person. On landing at Delhi got chance to have a 2-3 minute talk with him. Not once it looked that I was talking to a man who has been top raider for third season in a row.
He finished 2021-2022 season with 304 points in 24 matches which averages 12-13 points / game. His numbers were not even reflecting in his words. I told him what he has done over last three years has been nothing short of extraordinary and hope the dominance of India in World kabbadi will remain intact for a while. He was leaving the Delhi airport and I had next flight to board so we ended our meeting. I was super happy while boarding the next flight and even while writing still I am.
The only thing that left me in bitter mood was that there was not one guy shaking hands or even taking selfies with them as if no one knew about sport.
