Led by Jai Hind Lather, who trains at Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Gandhinagar since June 2023, Haryana won the under-18 boys’ kabaddi final
Published Date – 11 May 2025, 01:02 PM
Haryana team which won the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games kabaddi gold in Bihar.
HYDERABAD: Big names of Indian kabaddi like Pardeep Narwal, Deepak Niwas Hooda, Mohit Challar and Monu Goyat are the inspiration for the younger generation of Haryana and this is evident by the way they asserted their supremacy winning the kabaddi gold defeating Maharashtra 39-28 in the Khelo India Youth Games at Bihar Sports University indoor hall in Rajgir.
Led by Jai Hind Lather, who trains at Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Gandhinagar since June 2023, Haryana won the under-18 boys’ kabaddi final.
“Whether it is me or young children, all of us were inspired by them to take up kabaddi as a career. The fact that they have already won medals for the country gives us confidence that we can also do the same, if we keep working hard,” Jai Hind informed SAI Media.
Raiders Prince Dahiya, Ishant and Nikhil were the most valuable players for Haryana, helping them clinch a bagful of points with their strong raids.
“We are here in Bihar to win nothing short of gold at the Khelo India Youth Games. Khelo India is a very important platform for athletes like us to take the big leap in their career by showcasing our talent and skills here,” he said.
“The Indian government is doing a lot for sports. We receive free coaching, training facilities, sports kits, boarding and lodging at NCOE Gandhinagar. This helps athletes like me to just concentrate on their performance,” added the 18-year-old, whose father Bijender Lather Jaglan is a farmer in Lajwana village of Jind district.
The 2022 Asian Games gold medal winning Indian team had four players from Haryana – Parvesh Bhainswal, Naveen Kumar, Sunil Kumar and Nitin Rawal. And before that in 2018 Asiad, six players were part of the bronze medal-winning Indian team including Monu Goyat, Rohit Kumar, Pardeep Narwal, Sandeep Narwal, Deepak Niwas Hooda and Mohit Chillar.
Another Haryana player Nikhil Gulia, 17, harbours dreams of playing in the Pro Kabaddi League. Nikhil, who hails from Gudsam village in Panipat district, trains at the SAI Centre in Jaipur from April 2024.
“I get motivated while watching Pro Kabaddi. Players like Pardeep Narwal, Rahul Chaudhary have been a huge inspiration for us. My dream is to represent India in international tournaments and make a name for myself in Pro Kabaddi,” said Nikhil, who was part of Haryana’s U-19 gold-winning team in SGFI Championship last year.
Haryana head coach Narinder Rana said that the state has traditionally been very powerful in contact sports like boxing and wrestling but Government of India’s initiatives like Khelo India and the popularity of Pro Kabaddi League has been the reason behind their recent spurt in kabaddi.
“They are present in large numbers in each of the franchises in the Pro Kabaddi League. Kabaddi players have been receiving support through Khelo India and various SAI centres and NCOEs,” said Rana.
