The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India has announced a final 12-member men’s squad for the 2018 Asian Games to be held at Indonesia in August. The World Champions have picked up nine out of nine gold medals in the past (7 men and 2 women) and will look to replicate the same and make the country proud yet again. Tamil Thalaivas’ Ajay Thakur returns as the captain of the men’s team, after recently leading them to the inaugural Kabaddi Masters Dubai triumph.

Alongside the brilliant corner defenders Girish Maruti Ernak and Mohit Chhillar, Raju Lal Choudhary and Mallesh Gangadhari have also been picked in the squad. Though Choudhary featured for India in the Kabaddi Masters, Gangadhari is a fresh face. Both Deepak Hooda and Sandeep Narwal return as allrounders after a decent Kabaddi Masters outing and would look to take control of the game from either end.

However, India’s biggest asset would be their star-studded raiding unit. Led by the unfaltering Thakur, the VIVO Pro Kabaddi heavyweights in the form of Pardeep Narwal, Rohit Kumar and Rahul Chaudhari have been selected in the team. Alongside them, the in-form raiding duo of Rishank Devadiga and Monu Goyat, who impressed all in the Kabaddi Masters, have earned themselves another call-up to the national side.

The complete squad list is here:

Ajay Thakur (Tamil Thalaivas)

Pardeep Narwal (Patna Pirates)

Rishank Devadiga (UP Yoddha)

Monu Goyat (Haryana Steelers)

Rohit Kumar (Bengaluru Bulls)

Rahul Chaudhari (Telugu Titans)

Deepak Niwas Hooda (Jaipur Pink Panthers)

Sandeep Narwal (Puneri Paltan)

Girish Maruti Ernak (Puneri Paltan)

Mohit Chhillar (Jaipur Pink Panthers)

Raju Lal Choudhary (Bengaluru Bulls)

Mallesh Gangadhari (Jaipur Pink Panthers)

Stand by:

Maninder Singh (Bengal Warriors)

Amit Nagar (Bengal Warriors)

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