'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
As we get closer to the commencement of the 2018 Kabaddi Masters competition, the six teams in the fray namely India, Iran, Pakistan, Kenya, Argentina, and the Republic of Korea will be itching to get on the mat and battle it out for the title.
The upcoming tournament, which promises to play host to some top-flight Kabaddi is set to begin on the 22nd of June 2018 at the Al Wasl Sports Club in Dubai and will start with India labelled as favourites, boasting of some of the best players in the world who have buckets of experience from the national setup and the Pro Kabaddi League.
While India will travel to Iran with a full-strength squad, the absence of some stalwarts from the Iran team such as Fazel Athrachali, Meraj Sheykh, and Abozar Mighani has certainly raised some eyebrows.
The Republic of South Korea, on the other hand, will compete with a relatively strong squad with most players having earned a contract with Pro Kabaddi League teams from the recently concluded auctions ahead of the sixth season of the lucrative league.
World-cup winners Pakistan will also pose a strong challenge while Argentina and Kenya will look to put up a positive show and prove as stiff competition.
Here are five non-Indian players who emerged with fat contracts from the PKL auctions and will take part in the upcoming Kabaddi Masters competition.
#5 David Mosambayi
The skipper of the Kenyan national Kabaddi team that participated in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, David Mosambayi has acres of experience under his belt and was bought for a big sum of ₹10.2 lakh rupees by the Jaipur Pink Panthers.
The versatile raider, who has also grown to quickly fit into the role of an all-rounder claims that he learned the game through YouTube and made his first entry to the Pro Kabaddi League when he was picked by Puneri Paltan ahead of Season three.
Although he did not play too many games, his raiding skill in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup put him in the spotlight as he picked up a total of 46 points and also finished as the sixth best raider from the competition.
#4 Young Chang Ko
An upcoming left cover defender, Young Chang Ko was billed as one defender to watch out for ahead of the fifth season of the Pro Kabaddi League and for no small reason as he was instrumental in Bengal Warriors' phenomenal run.
Although his numbers do not paint a pretty picture, his understanding of the game coupled with a natural attacking instinct heightened his role alongside the likes of Warriors' skipper Surjeet Singh and Ran Singh.
In the auctions leading to the sixth season of the Pro Kabaddi League, his services were procured for ₹11.4 lakh by the Jaipur Pink Panthers and will be a vital part of Korea's defense unit in the Masters' competition.
#3 Tae Deok Eom
Always active on the mat with a keen eye out for grabbing the opportunities as they appear, Tae Deok Eom's all-round prowess has not gone unnoticed, a feature that influenced the Patna Pirates to buy back their Korean all-rounder for a sum of ₹11.4 lakh rupees at the auctions.
Such has been the all-rounders' impact that the Jaipur Pink Panthers and U.P Yoddha too found interest in his skill but ultimately re-joined the Pirates, a team with which he won the title in the third season.
His bubbly attitude has not only helped him to gather points, it has also rubbed off on his teammates which will surely serve as a show in the arm for the Koreans when they take to the mat for their games during the tournament.
#2 Dong Geon Lee
A vital part of the Tamil Thalaivas setup last season, Dong Geon Lee's agile yet powerful raiding has earned him a big name in the Kabaddi circles, one that also saw him find interest from five franchises namely Dabang Delhi, UP Yoddha, Jaipur Pink Panthers, Bengal Warriors and the Gujarat Fortunegiants, who won the final bid with a final price of ₹17.2 lakh.
In 17 matches, Lee picked up a total of 29 raid points and played second fiddle to skipper Ajay Thakur to great effect and is sure to play a massive role in South Korea's campaign this time around at the Kabaddi Masters with extra experience from the Kabaddi World Cup set to aid his game even further.
#1 Jang Kun Lee
One of the best raiders in the competition by a long stretch, Jang Kun Lee's efficiency on the mat has paid rich dividends to the Bengal Warriors' campaign over the past few seasons. From 72 matches,
Lee has a total of 351 points of which are 332 raid points which certainly underlines his raiding ability.
A massive chunk of the bronze-medal winning South Korean Kabaddi team from the Incheon Games, Lee has participated in every season of the Pro Kabaddi League and has only grown in stature with every passing year.
Possessing a vicious 'scorpion kick' to add more variety to his existing bag of tricks, Lee's services were bought back by the Bengal Warriors for a sum of ₹33 lakh rupees and the talented raider will certainly turn out to be the lead raider for Korea in the upcoming competition.
Which of these players will create the most impact? Sound off in the comments section below!
