Rahul balkar

For Puneri Paltan: For Puneri Paltan star Aslam Inamdar, kabaddi has been more than just a sport — it has been a lifeline. From humble beginnings helping his mother make ends meet by washing tea glasses at a stall, to lifting the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) trophy in Season 10, Aslam’s story is one of grit, resilience, and self-belief.

"My childhood was very hard. Our only goal was that nobody in the family should go hungry. I worked in hotels, on farms, anywhere I could — but I never let go of my passion for kabaddi," recalls Aslam on 'The Chill Hour' podcast with Deepak Pareek.

That passion found an outlet thanks to his brother Wasim and local coach Rahul Balkar. Despite years of obscurity — "For 10 years, I was just a kabaddi player with no money or fame" — Aslam’s big breakthrough came in 2019. By 2021, he was making his Pro Kabaddi League debut with Puneri Paltan, soon establishing himself as a fearless raider.