Former Indian Kabaddi Team Captain Anup Kumar bids farewell to the game
Panchkula: Former Indian Kabaddi Team Captain and Jaipur Pink Panther’s Captain Anup Kumar has been the face of Indian Kabaddi for quite some time now. Fondly known as ‘captain cool’ of Indian Kabaddi he has been the torch bearer of Indian Kabaddi since a long time.
Anup Kumar now has hung up his boots after playing professional Kabaddi for more than a decade. Anup hails from Parla, Haryana which is just 247 kms from the Panchkula stadium where the Jaipur team is currently playing their home leg. It was speculated earlier that Anup Kumar will announce his retirement when the Jaipur team play their home leg.
Off lately he has not been in the best of his form. This season has not been great where he has managed to score just 50 points from 13 matches. On the captain’s front as well his team has managed to win just 4 out of 14 matches. They stand at the second last spot in Zone A. So far Anup Kumar has scored 596 points from 91 matches. He is 6th in the list of highest point scorers in Pro Kabaddi League history.
Anup, in an emotional video posted by Jaipur Pink Panthers revealed why did he choose this date as to retire as well as reasons behind quitting the game. He said that his son’s birthday is the best day to bid adieu to the sport he loves the most. While disclosing his reason to retire he said that he understands that this is the game of youngsters and now they should take it ahead. He also thanked his supporters for their continued love and affection for him, and he also mentioned them to keep loving the sport and not just limit it to ‘Anup’.
A man who left an unmatchable, everlasting legacy on the mat bids the game goodbye today.
Thank you captain cool, @IamAnupK, for all that you've done for the game both on and off the mat! #RoarForPanthers #JaiHanuman pic.twitter.com/VK9Nn0DC21
— Jaipur Pink Panthers (@JaipurPanthers) December 19, 2018
Known for his heroics in the Pro Kabaddi League and International Kabaddi he was the face of U Mumba in PKL for the past five seasons. Also known by his fans as ‘Bonus ka Badshah’ he was the man that every team would always vouch for. Being a calm and composed man he is always respected for happy demeanor.
His journey in International Kabaddi began in 2006 when he played in the South Asian Games in Sri Lanka. Anup, thereafter has been a consistent performer for the Indian Kabaddi Team. Under his leadership Indian Team won their record third Kabaddi World Cup in 2016. In 2012 he was conferred with the Arjuna Award for his outstanding contribution to the sport of Kabaddi.
Despite Anup being retired from the game of Kabaddi, we might soon see him back with some exciting news from the world of Kabaddi as he has exclaimed in his farewell speech. He has promised his fans that there is definitely some surprise in his kitty and only time will tell what the big news actually is.