Navneet Gautam’s Kojak-like appearance makes him very prominent on the kabaddi court, especially when he positions himself as a defender in the left corner.
It’s been 14 years since he saw accolades come his way for the first time when he won the gold medal for Rajasthan in the junior national championship. On Friday evening, he was gung-ho about the joy of playing in the ProKabaddi league for the last one month. ``There is no doubt that the last month has been the best time of our lives as kabaddi players. The support from all sections of the society has been an unforgettable experience. The response from ordinary people has been exceptional. Thanks to Mashal Sports and Star Sports for doing this for us,’’ said the 31-year-old Pink Panthers Jaipur captain.
It was an honest appraisal of the inaugural league by a very senior kabaddi player, who was among half a dozen players to win a bid in excess of Rs.10 lakh at the auction. Pink Panthers, owned by film star Abhishek Bachchan, paid Rs. 11.20 lakh to engage Gautam as a professional kabaddi player.
After scoring a facile victory over Patna Pirates in the semi-final on Friday, a beaming Gautam waxed eloquent on Abhishek’s support: ``He (Abhishek) has been amazing. He has encouraged and motivated us right through the league. He has got right into kabaddi now.’’
The Panthers, who lost to U Mumba in the inaugural match of the league at the NSCI, are looking forward to turn the tables in the final. The winner will receive Rs. 50 lakh as prize money. ``For us the title and the grand culmination is important; not the prize money. We had a plan for each and every Patna player and we executed it very well. I don’t raid; I am a pure defender, like a specialist bowler in cricket,’’ Gautam said. He is looking forward to a short break before the Asian Games camp at New Delhi from Sept.5.
An Arjuna award winner in 2007, the six-foot kabaddi player from Jaipur is a two-time gold medal winner each in the Asian Games (Guangzhou and Doha), Asian Indoor Games (Vietnam and Macau) and World Cup. ``We were told that lot of celebrities and a massive turnout will witness the semi-final and final in Mumbai. I could see that today in the stands. It was thrilling. The atmosphere was great,’’ said Gautam, not really wanting to pick an opponent in the final.
