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With less than a week to go for the Kabaddi Masters 2018, a six-team competition at the Al Wasl Sports Club in Dubai which features teams from India, Pakistan, Argentina, Iran, Republic of South Korea and Kenya, there will be a buzz in the air amongst kabaddi fans as some of the best players across the world will be on show from the 22nd of June onwards.
One of the biggest surprises leading to the tournament is Iran's team composition, with big names such as Meraj Sheykh, Fazel Athrachali and other big-ticket players missing out from the competition. India, on the other hand, will be playing with a full-strength squad led by Ajay Thakur.
The Republic of South Korea, who also boast of some quality players who have made a name from the Pro Kabaddi League will eye for the top prize alongside Pakistan, who will be coming into the competition with a lot of confidence from the recently concluded Super Kabaddi League.
Newcomers Argentina and Kenya will also be itching to make a mark at the global level and can be expected to play the role of the dark horses in the competition. In light of the Masters set to commence in a few days, here are five non-Indian players who have played in the Pro Kabaddi League and can use that experience to make an impact in the Kabaddi Masters.
#5 David Mosambayi - Kenya
One of Kenya's top performers from the 2016 World Cup, David Mosambayi's raiding prowess was quickly picked up by the Puneri Paltan, who drafted the African nation's skipper ahead of the third season of the Pro Kabaddi League in which he played only one game.
For the fifth season, Mosambayi shifted to the Haryana Steelers, where he picked up his first ever point in the league while coming on as a substitute. In the auctions prior to the sixth season of the lucrative league, Mosambayi was picked by the Jaipur Pink Panthers for a sum of Rs 10.2 lacs.
Only the second Kenya-based player to play in the league after Simon Kibura, Mosambayi's powerful raiding and vicious tackles will be a vital part of Kenya's campaign in the competition.
#4 Hadi Tajik - Iran
The right corner defender, who made an impact for the U.P Yoddha in season five of the Pro Kabaddi League will be one man to watch out for from the Iran team, which surprisingly does not have the presence of big-flight players such as Meraj Sheykh, Abozar Mighani etc.
The burly defender, who played in nine games in U.P Yoddha's campaign last season, picked up four raid points and 5 tackle points and his all-round skill will be an important chunk of Iran's campaign.
Given the fact that Iran will come into the competition with a relatively unknown squad, the onus will be on Hadi Tajik to lead the bunch and pose a stiff competition for the other teams.
#3 Dong Geon Lee - Republic of South Korea
One of Tamil Thalaivas' bright spark in a rather dismal campaign, Dong Geon Lee's nippy raiding came to the Thalaivas' rescue during times of peril and in the upcoming competition, Lee's raiding will be a big part of South Korea's campaign.
While Jang Kun Lee will don the role of the lead raider, Geon Lee will be given the supporting role, one that he exercised to precision at the Thalaivas, when he played the second fiddle to Ajay Thakur as he went on to pick 29 points from 17 matches in his debut season.
Gifted with an ability to travel the court with pace and gather points through touch points and the bonus, Geon Lee's services were procured for Rs 17.2 lacs by the Gujarat Fortunegiants ahead of season six and his agile raiding will certainly come to the fore when South Korea take to the mat in a couple of days.
#3 Tae Deok Eom - Republic of South Korea
A bubbly all-rounder, who is better known for his raiding, Deok Eom's popularity quotient revolves around his ability to strike at crucial moments with vicious tackles as well as agile raids, a feature of his that was demonstrated during his stint with the Patna Pirates.
Fondly referred to as the 'Flying Rabbit' in his inner circles, the burly all-rounder has managed to bring in his experience from taekwondo and wrestling into Kabaddi which has further enriched his game. From 24 matches, Eom has 21 points inclusive of 14 raid points and in the PKL auctions prior to season 6, Eom's services were procured back by the Patna Pirates for a sum of Rs 11.4 lacs.
In the upcoming Masters' competition, Eom will have a huge role to play in the Korean setup and will be a vital component of the team with his all-round abilities.
#1 Jang Kun Lee - Republic of South Korea
One of the world's finest raiders, Jang Kun Lee's raiding prowess from the Pro Kabaddi League has not gone unnoticed with the South Korean proving his worth with increasing effect as the seasons have progressed.
The 25-year-old, who has played all five seasons of the lucrative league for the Bengal Warriors was bought back by the Warriors' management for a Rs 33 lacs using their 'Final Bid Match' card and will turn out for them for the record sixth season and with 351 points from 72 matches, will play a huge role in their run for the title in October.
However, in the upcoming Kabaddi Masters competition, Jang Kun Lee's raiding ability will be the talking point for South Korea which will undoubtedly determine how far they go in the competition.
