It was a thrilling grand finale with Jaipur Pink Panthers clinching their second title in the 9th edition of vivo Pro Kabaddi League at the Raconundar Indoor Stadium. There had been some exhilarating matches throughout the season and there were also mesmerizing performances by known stars as well as some fresh faces. These players earned well-deserved recognition in the form of awards, which were presented to them during an award ceremony. Arun Kumar of U Mumba won Most Valuable Player (MVP) while Siddharth Desai won Best Raider title. Deepak Niwas Hooda, who captained Puneri Paltan, was awarded best defender award. With a lot of adrenaline, excitement, and celebration all around, Season 9 was brought curtains amidst a bang leaving behind many doozie moments that are sure to remain afresh for all kabaddi fans!
MVP – Arjun Deshwal, Jaipur Pink Panthers
Arjun Deshwal was undoubtedly the standout performer for Jaipur Pink Panthers in Season 9 of the Pro-Kabaddi League. His 296 raid points and 17 Super 10s in 24 matches were simply unmatched, as he moved his team to glory. His seven Super Raids provided some moments of exhilarating entertainment, often becoming decisive factors towards victory. With these feats, Deshwal rightfully earned the MVP title and helped his team reach the summit of success. It’s fair to say that without Deshwal’s dramatic displays of raw talent, Jaipur Pink Panthers likely would not have achieved what they did this season.
Raider of the Season – Bharat, Bengaluru Bulls
Bharat displayed dynamic raiding throughout VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 9, making him an indispensable part of the Bengaluru Bulls squad. With 279 raid points from 23 matches, he was not only second-best scorers for his team but also the Best Raider of the Season. His versatility particularly impressed pundits as Bharat delivered 11 Super Raids – the most by any raider in that season – and 16 Super 10s during raids, manifesting his ability to read opposition defences and choose the right raid at precisely the right moment. It is no wonder that regular watchers of VIVO Pro Kabaddi have already taken Bharat under their wings and consider him one of the league’s best raiders.
Defender of the Season – Ankush, Jaipur Pink Panthers
As a debutant to Vivo Pro Kabaddi, Ankush’s performance was astonishing. With 89 tackle points and 9 High 5s under his belt, he managed to make an immense impact on the match. His remarkable accomplishments earned him the title of Best Defender of the Season and brought him up to the level of defensive stalwarts like his captain Sunil Kumar. Most notably, he scored the joint-highest tackle points for any defender playing in their first season, as well as 5 Super Tackles which no one else managed to reach during Season 9. It’s easy to see why Ankush rose above expectations and went from strength to strength throughout the season: no one is underestimating his unbelievable talent anymore.
New Young Player – Narender, Tamil Thalaivas
Narender is a rising star in the Vivo Pro Kabaddi League. On debut, he set new benchmarks with a Super 10 performance which earned him the title of New Young Player of the Season for scoring 243 raid points. He then made history in Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 9 by recording an unprecedented amount of raid points for a rookie and maintained a dominant form through 15 Super 10s and 4 Super Raids. This impressive start showed that Narender has great potential to go even further in Pro Kabaddi, and fans are sure to be excited to see his performances in future competitions.
