- By Vishal Pushkar
- Sun, 15 Oct 2023 05:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Yuva Kabaddi Series (YKS) has had a significant impact on the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 auction, with 18 players from the YKS being picked by various franchise teams. Ashu Malik, a standout performer from the Yuva Kabaddi Series Summer Edition 2022, was the highlight of the auction, securing a massive ₹96.25 lakh from Dabang Delhi. Other notable YKS players like Nitin Kumar and Masanamuthu Lakshnanan also garnered significant bids, with franchisees spending over ₹7 crore on 63 players who had showcased their talent in the YKS.
The Yuva Kabaddi Series, launched in 2022, has played a pivotal role in nurturing young kabaddi talents in India by providing them with a highly competitive platform. The success of YKS players in the Pro Kabaddi League auction reaffirms the series' vision of empowering young and aspiring kabaddi players, offering them exposure to the highest level of the sport.
Sandeep Kumar, the current top raider in the ongoing CARS24 Yuva Kabaddi Series Monsoon Edition 2023, was picked by Patna Pirates for ₹9 lakh. The auction also featured a significant demand for players who had impressed franchise owners with their skills and potential.
Additionally, 24 players were signed through the New Young Players (NYPs) program, with teams investing ₹2.25 crore, and 21 players were retained by their previous teams for the upcoming season with an expenditure of ₹2.04 crore. The Yuva Kabaddi Series has not only created a platform for players from various regions of the country but has also contributed to increased representation from various states, featuring standout New Young Players like M Sudhakar, Praful Zaware, Ajit Pawar, Kunal Bhati, Rohit Yadav, and Gagan Gowda.
The Yuva Kabaddi Series provides a professional platform for young players (U-23, Below 80 kgs) to prepare them for the highest level of kabaddi. It aims to groom well-rounded individuals by offering support in areas such as financial literacy, media training, and nutrition, alongside developing their sporting careers. To date, the series has engaged over 1400 youth players in 725 matches overseen by 76 coaches and 177 officials.