In a lot of ways, the name Anup Kumar is synonymous with Indian kabaddi as the 32-year old has been the biggest star in the sport for more than a decade. So when it was announced that Anup Kumar will be leading India at the upcoming 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, it was more of a formality rather than an actual announcement. Needless to say, Anup’s credentials as player and captain make for fabulous reading and there was no other choice the selectors could have made while selecting the captain.
It is Anup Kumar’s ability to read the game well that distinguishes him from the others as the raider has always used his experience to the advantage of his side, be it India or U Mumba. Kumar first competed for the national team at the 2006 South Asian Games, which were held in Sri Lanka. His journey for India, since then, has been nothing short of magical.
The 32-year old raider, who hails from Palra in Haryana, has been highly consistent with his Pro Kabaddi franchise U Mumba and is considered to be a very calm and composed person, whether it's on the mat or off it. There is rarely a moment where the Indian shows his emotions or gets angry on the mat. This attribute makes him one of the most unique players in the world as he is the ‘captain cool’ of kabaddi.
The Mumbai stalwart is the best choice to captain the national side not just because of his calmness under pressure, but due to his excellent record in the Pro Kabaddi League. Kumar, as captain of the U Mumba team, has taken his side into the finals of the league for 3 consecutive times, which in itself is a record not achieved by anyone else. His team finished as runners up in the first and third seasons of Pro Kabaddi League but went on to clinch the title in the second season.
Kumar is a raider with unmatched talent, will and determination. The Arjuna awardee has made the nation proud by performing well at many international events. He has scored more than 400 points, which have come off over 300 successful raids, during his career. These overwhelming performances from the Indian have also include him winning a total of 34 defence points from 30 successful tackles. Kumar is a specialist in toe-touches and bonus points, and has the ability of changing the course of a game in his team’s favour from any position.
Kumar, under his leadership, has nurtured players like Rishank Devadiga, Mohit Chillar, Sandeep Narwal and Pardeep Narwal, who have excelled after showing their talent on the biggest stage. Not only this, his tactics and strategies have been exceptional throughout his career and Kumar has always brought out the best in his teammates. The 2016 Kabaddi World Cup begins on October 7th and a fortnight later on 22nd, do not be surprised if you see Anup Kumar lifting the trophy in what could possibly be his last major national tournament.
