Iyyappan Veerapandian is full of confidence after his outstanding exploits in the Yuva Kabaddi Series propelled him to state and national championships.
Iyyappan Veerapandian is full of confidence after his outstanding performances in the Yuva Kabaddi Series propelled him to state and national level events. The deadly raider now hopes to build on his good results in order to attain new career highs. However, life was not always easy for Iyyappan, who is from the village of Ariyankuppam in Pondicherry and has parents who work as labourers to make ends meet. Despite his difficulties, the fearsome right-hander continues to toil on the mat to attain his objectives.
“When I was in sixth grade, I started playing Kabaddi and later joined Jaya Sports Club in Pondicherry to further my talents. My parents are workers, and they were opposed to me playing Kabaddi because they were concerned that I would get wounded. However, I really wanted to play, so they let me, and when they watched me join SAI and then play in Yuva Kabaddi Series on TV, they were overjoyed and proud of me,” Iyyappan said, according to a Yuva Kabaddi Series press release.
Iyyappan’s life changed when he began working as a volunteer for the Yuva Kabaddi Series in December 2022, which piqued his interest in the sport and led to his debut in the fifth season of the Yuva Kabaddi Series. This allowed him to participate in the All India Inter SAI tournament as well. He has been in good form with Chola Veerans in the Winter Edition 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Pondicherry, scoring 47 points in 12 games. However, the player’s trip has not been without its difficulties.
He added, “Yuva Kabaddi Series has provided me with a platform to showcase my talent. Before this tournament nobody knew me, however, thanks to social media, people in Pondicherry and Tami Nadu started to recognize me, and I started to receive opportunities to play at state and national level tournaments as well.”
“I didn’t get enough chances in my first season but I gradually earned opportunities to play and showcased my skills. This is my third season with Chola Veerans and my performance wasn’t up to the mark in the initial matches, so, I dedicated myself fully to performing well in the next five matches and I started to do good. I would like to express gratitude for providing me with this opportunity,” reflected Iyyappan.
Chola Veerans qualified for the challenger round of the Yuva Kabaddi Series Winter Edition 2023, a competition that provides a highly competitive platform for India’s emerging kabaddi stars while also allowing next-generation players to display their potential. It also prepares them for the largest stage of Kabaddi.
The squad finished sixth with 30 points in the survival round and will look to improve in the tournament’s challenger phase. The final will be contested on February 7th.
