Maharashtra captain Gadai rolls kabaddi pitch himself in India comeback bid

Disappointed at being omitted for the Asian Games preparatory camp, Shankar vows to work harder and promises to spare no sweat while training at his village ground at Ahmednagar

Maharashtra kabaddi team captain and Gujarat Giants all-rounder Shankar Gadai, 25, who was part of two India camps, is disappointed at not being picked for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games (September 23 to October 8) preparation camp. 

However, Gadai made it clear that he is determined to work hard, improve his game and impress the national selectors before the next India team selection.

Gadai is working hard to improve his fitness and game at his home in Bhenda village, Ahmednagar district.  Rolling the ground there is what he does often. “This ground is like home to me. It gives me everything, so it's my duty to maintain it by ensuring it has sufficient amount of good soil and water.

“We all players do the same. A good ground condition helps us practise well and stay injury-free. We roll it properly on a daily basis,” said Gadai.

Back to the disappointment of missing out. “Seven players from Maharashtra were at the 40-player camp held at Patna and Bangalore. Now, only four—Akash Shinde, Aslam Inamdar, Shubham Sinde and Pankaj Mohite — are in the 24-player camp [in Bangalore] .

“It is disappointing not to get a chance in the Asian Games team, but I will work hard, especially on corner fielding technique. I am confident that I will come up with my best show in the next Nationals as well as the Pro Kabaddi tournament to be held in October,” Gadai told mid-day.com.

Apart from Gadai, Maharashtra’s Girish Ernak and Siddharth Desai failed to make it in the list of 24 probables. Gadai was part of the India camp ahead of the Asian Kabaddi Championship, which India won by beating Iran in the final at Busan, South Korea recently.

Also Read: Asian Games 2023 selections were biased, made to feel unworthy in national camp, claims Amit Panghal

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