PKL 9: Which foreign countries were represented at the auction?

It is a testament to the league’s growth that players from multiple countries were part of the auction.

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 9 is inching closer with every passing day. The PKL is the premier kabaddi competition in India, which houses the top talent across many franchises that compete to win the trophy. The mega auction took place recently where there was a race to sign players amongst the teams ahead of the new season. 

The Pro Kabaddi League is not only growing in popularity within India, but it is spreading its wings in many foreign countries. The sport of kabaddi is catching on in multiple countries and they are producing capable kabaddi players that are becoming part of the PKL. Apart from traditionally strong kabaddi nations like India and Iran, other countries like South Korea, Kenya, Thailand and more are also producing top-class kabaddi talent.

There were players available at the mega auction from many foreign countries. Here is a look at the list of nations that were represented at the auction for PKL Season 9:

Iran

Iran had the most number of overseas players in the auction and the most number of sold players from a foreign country. Iranian players have a strong foundation and are efficient performers and hence hold great value. Here is a list of the players that were part of the auction:

Hadi Oshtorak, Fazel Atrachali, Mohammad Nabibakhsh, Abozar Mighani, Amirhossein Bastami, Gholamabbas Korouki, Hamid Nader, Mohammad Maghsoudlou Mahali, Mohsen Maghsoudlou, Reza K, Reza M, Soleiman Pahlevani, Mohammad Taghi Paein Mahali, Emran Madadi, Mohammad Ghorbani.

Republic of Korea

Kabaddi is still in a nascent stage when it comes to its popularity in East Asian nations. South Korea is one of the countries where the sport is growing the fastest. Here is a list of players from the nation that was part of the auction:

Dong Geon Lee, Woosan KO, Young Chang Ko, Jung Woo Lee, Jong Hoon Choi, Juhwan Kim. 

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka had a strong representation and kabaddi is a sport which is catching on quickly among the upcoming generation over there. Here are the players that were representing the country in the auction:

Aslam Saja, Thanushan Laxmamohan, Sandun Niroodha P. Y. Pathiranalage, Ashan Mihiranga.

Thailand

Thailand had only one representative at the PKL 9 auction and he went unsold.

Tin Phonchoo

Kenya

Kenya is a strong kabaddi nation and one of the leading producers of kabaddi players from Africa. Here are the players that were part of the auction from the nation:

Daniel Odhimabo, James Kamweti, Helvic Simuyu Wanjala, Samuel Wanjala Wafula, Haggai Odhiambio Ogak, David Shilisia Mosambayi, Victor Onyango Obiero.

Bangladesh

Indian neighbours are strong kabaddi nations due to the popularity of the sport in the subcontinent. Here are the players that were representing Bangladesh in the auction:

Md Arif Rabbani, Md Liton Ali, Md. Hasibul Hossain, Md. Mijanur Rahman, Md. Rabiul Alam, Md. Sharif Miah, Md. Shazid Hossain.

Nepal

There were two players that were part of the auction from Nepal as well:

Lal Manohar Yadav, Nageshor Tharu.

Malaysia

Malaysia had two players in the auction as the sport is growing in popularity over there:

Khateravan Mariappan, Mugilan Batumalai.

Japan

Japan had one representative at the PKL 9 auction but he went unsold at the auction:

Hyuma Kurashima