There was no scope for Kabbadi as I began my career : Monu Goyat
Monu Goyat has emerged from being a small scale kabbadi player to the most expensive buy in the PKL, competing with the likes of highest-earning athletes. In a recent interview, he revealed that he wanted to play like his uncle and with the responsibility of being the primary raider of his team.
Monu Goyat has come a long way - from being a player who wasn't picked to represent any team in 2015, to being the highest paid player in this year's edition of the Pro Kabbadi League. Hailing from the small village of Kungar in Haryana, the 25-year-old would've hardly expected to be paid 1.51 crore to play the sport he loves.
Monu Goyat spoke of his humble beginning as a Kabbadi player, when the sport did not have much to offer.
"When I initially started playing, there wasn’t much scope in kabaddi. However, one would get a job. Besides, one could also look forward to playing the Asian Games and World Cup," Goyat told the Quint.
"I used to see my uncle (Vijender Singh) play, he was a great kabaddi player at the time. My family was also very encouraging, and so I wanted to become like my uncle and gain the same repute that he had of being a good kabaddi player."
However, Goyat only got to participate in the fourth edition of the PKL and as luck deserted him in the previous editions when none of the teams chose to put their money on him.
"I never stopped wanting to play in the league. I knew if I kept practicing and working hard, I would be able to participate for sure."
After the Haryana Steelers bought him for a record-breaking amount, Goyat became the most expensive player in
In his maiden PKL season, Goyat was named among the 15 top raiders in the tournament. However, his run with the Patna Pirates in the fifth edition proved to be his real breakthrough as he and Pardeep Narwal led the team to their 2017 PKL title with 560 raid points, adding on to two consecutive titles. Goyat's standalone score was 191 raid points in 26 games, which was the fourth highest in the tournament. As the primary raider of the Haryana Steelers, he will have to step up his game in this edition.
"I’m the primary raider of my team now, so the responsibility has definitely increased this season."
The star player said that he expected to touch the crore mark in the auction bid but 1.51 crores came as a shocker.
"As long as the game is there, more money will also come. Now that Haryana Steelers have bagged me for such a big amount, I want to do well and take the team to the finals."