Star Sports Pro Kabaddi: Top 5 foreign players from season 1

Masayuki Shimokawa Japan U Mumba kabaddi
Masayuki Shimokawa

Though the home-grown sporting extravaganza – Star Sports Pro Kabaddi – heralded a spell of promise for the native players, there were certain foreign players who became household names too. The preliminary season of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi had players from all over the world setting the stadium alight.The top-rated players from across the globe made a noticeable foray into the game. These players from all parts of the globe added to the spirit of camaraderie and also created a diverse result to the otherwise homogenous crowd. Celebrated athletes from Turkmenistan, Iran and other nations like England, Kenya, Japan, Sri Lanka, South Korea and others stepped into the Indian terrain and showed the crowd that kabaddi is not just India’s domain.Here is a list of the best foreign players who made their presence felt in the first season of the league:

#5 Masayuki Shimokawa - Japan

Masayuki Shimokawa Japan U Mumba kabaddi
Masayuki Shimokawa

26-year-old Masayuki Shimokawa from Japan helped U Mumba reach the finals of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. The raider, who looks up to Bengaluru Bulls’ Ajay Thakur as his hero, has bagged multiple medals in international and national events.

Despite hailing from a modest family and making paltry cash with sea food business, he has risen to become an important member of the Japanese national team. Shimokawa’s presence in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi helped the league get a foreign audience as hordes of people from Japan tuned in to watch their darling in action.

#4 Dong Ju Hong - South Korea

Dong Ju Hong dabang delhi kabaddi south korea
Dong Ju Hong

Dong Ju Hong, from South Korea was a man to watch out for in every Dabang Delhi game. The defender from the Far East established his merit and track record in the sporadic openings that he was given a chance for.

Having warmed the bench for the initial games, Delhi’s struggles prompted the coach to play the talented 29-year-old. In a game against Puneri Paltan, he conquered his opponent and made a successful raid which turned the course of the game. Despite his sluggish opening in the game, Hong played meaningfully on other occasions.

#3 Takamitsu Kono - Japan

Takamitsu Kono Japan Dabang Delhi kabaddi
Takamitsu Kono (L)

Takamitsu Kono came from Japan laden with abundant talent and aspirations. His ability to play rugby granted him the strength to ace his skills as a defender. Despite primarily being a defender, the 22-year-old has the ability to step in for his team’s specialist raiders. Like his Japanese companion, Shimokawa, Kono, too is a part of the Japanese national team.

During his association with Dabang Delhi exhibited his ambidextrous skills and did no harm to Japan’s reputation as a rising power in kabaddi. In a face-off against Puneri Paltan, Kono managed to ace both tackles and raids. This junior national champion did manage to compete against the Indians in the first season.

#2 Seong Ryeol Kim - South Korea

Seong Ryeol Kim South Korea Bengal Warriors kabaddi
Seong Ryeol Kim

Another player of marvellous significance from Korea was Seong Ryeol Kim. This defenders’ presence in the Bengal Warriors squad navigated the team from certain doom on plenty of occasions. Like his counterpart, Jan Kun Lee, his on-and-off forays on the field did not go unnoticed. Despite the glitches with the vernacular and regional languages, the 30-year-old Kim managed to stay in alliance with his team. Most importantly, he was also said to have an equal rapport with the squad from the other teams.

His inclusion in the core squad from a substitute came in certain games like the one against Bengaluru Bulls. Moreover, Kim, in a match against Telugu Titans, was involved in one of the most crucial turnarounds when he garnered three tackle points. He has taken the spirit of the game so much to his heart that he has inked his chest in Devanagari script which read, “Korea kabaddi ka gaurav”, which translates to “Korean kabaddi’s pride”.

#1 Jang Kun Lee - South Korea

Jang Kun Lee south korea bengal warriors kabaddi
Jang Kun Lee (L)

Jang Kun Lee, the-22-year-old from South Korea, proved his might to emerge as one of the best players in the league. Though Bengal Warriors’ tryst with victory was marred with inconsistencies, Kun Lee made his existence on the field apparent. His skills as a raider coupled with perfected techniques in tagging his opponents helped him etch his name in the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi fabric.

For someone who saw him play, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Lee has a connection with martial arts. This youthful member of the team continued to grow his tenacity on the field as the season went on. The massive seven raid points that he accrued in a game against Telugu Titans helped the team get a much-needed win.

He gathered a total of over fifty points for his team with his fleet-footed technique. His silky moves even garnered the praises of the owner of the team, Anand Mahindra, who christened him as a “superstar in the making”.

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Edited by Staff Editor