Cuttack, 11th January 2023: Young all-rounder Nilesh Jadhav, who has been a key player for the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants in the ongoing edition of the Ultimate Kho Kho League Season Two, credited the support of his team’s management and their progress over the season which has seen the side lose just two matches in the entirety of their campaign.
Sharing his thoughts about the side who have qualified for the playoffs, Nilesh said, “It is a great feeling to be playing for the Gujarat Giants in season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League. The coaching and the management, and their strategies heading into the season have been spot-on and it has been their guidance that has taken the team to the playoffs this season.”
Nilesh has been a key member of the Adani Sportsline-owned side in the ongoing campaign, but he has been playing Kho Kho for more than a decade. The Kolhapur-born defensive all-rounder revealed the moment he decided his career lay in this sport. “I have been a Kho Kho player for more than a decade. I started playing the sport at the young age of 11 and since then I have wanted to pursue a career as a Kho Kho player. However, I knew I could make it to the big leagues when I was 14 and did well at the national level of the sport. “Under-14 Nationals was my big moment in the sport.”
He added, “My father is a district-level Kabaddi player but when I was young, we moved to Kolhapur because of his job. The craze in Kolhapur for Kho Kho is very much alive, which encouraged me to take up this sport. A lot of people were not very convinced about me having a career in Kho Kho, especially when I was also playing the game and at the same time not getting a job as well. But when I was in sixth class we saw many Kho Kho playing and this inspired me to become a star of the game.”
Nilesh also spoke about his aspirations as a Kho Kho, citing one specific laurel in his sights. “One of my biggest dreams as a Kho Kho player is to win the Eklavya award. This is one of the most prestigious awards that a sportsperson can get, and along with it, we get a cash reward which I want to use for the betterment of Kho Kho as a sport. I am grateful to the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants, who have given me the perfect chance to win this award and make a name for myself in Kho Kho,” he shared.
