Working at Tea Stalls, Washing Dishes, Even Stealing for Stomach: Aslam Inamdar's incredible Life Struggle before Kabaddi Prominence

Aslam Inamdar's Asian Games 2026 gold medal carries the weight of a lifetime of struggle. The Indian all-rounder played his part as India defeated Iran 40-34 in the men's kabaddi final in Aichi-Nagoya on September 26, retaining the Asian Games title and securing India's ninth men's kabaddi gold.

Inamdar also produced two crucial points late in the final as India held off Iran. He was excellent in the final, racking up both raid and defence points to help India secure the gold.

But behind the gold medal is a story that began far away from the spotlight - in Taklibhan village in Maharashtra, where Inamdar grew up amid severe financial hardship.

Speaking to reporters after India's triumph, Inamdar reflected on how dramatically his life had changed. His father's death left his mother responsible for five children, while his elder brother Wasim later joined the police force and helped support the family. Inamdar said his struggles at home taught him how to fight through adversity.

"When my father passed away, my mother took responsibility. She looked after five children. My elder brother later joined the police force and took responsibility for the family. I learnt how to fight from my family," Aslam spoke after the gold medal win.

From tea stalls to the kabaddi mat

As a teenager, Inamdar travelled across Maharashtra for local kabaddi tournaments despite having little or no money. He recalled travelling without tickets, sometimes going hungry simply to pursue his passion.

"I used to travel by train without tickets. I didn't have money. I didn't eat or drink sometimes. I was around 14 or 15 years old and used to travel alone for tournaments. I was very passionate about kabaddi."

Survival meant taking whatever work was available. He worked in tea stalls, juice bars and farms, while also washing utensils and cleaning washrooms.

"I worked at a tea hotel and at a juice bar. I worked on people's farms. I did everything for my stomach. I washed tea vessels and even cleaned people's washrooms. I have done every kind of work in my life."

'I even stole for my Stomach'

His most difficult admission was that poverty sometimes pushed him to desperate measures.

"I even stole for my stomach. I would take small bottles and sell them at a scrap shop. I didn't do it for anything wrong. I did it because I needed food. That was the situation in my life."

Yet through all of it, kabaddi remained his constant.

"I worked all night and went for training in the morning. I worked on people's farms during the day and went to the ground in the evening. That passion was always there in my life."

His elder brother Wasim, a respected kabaddi player, was also a major inspiration.

"My brother was a big player and had a lot of fame in our area. People knew him in two or three districts. I used to think that one day people should know my name too. I kept fighting for that."

That persistence eventually took Inamdar to the Pro Kabaddi League and then to the Indian team. He was part of India's gold-medal winning side at the previous Asian Games and has now added another gold in Aichi-Nagoya.

The financial transformation was equally dramatic. Recalling his first major PKL payday, Inamdar said:

"My first season was worth Rs 8 lakh. For me, Rs 8 lakh was like Rs 8 crore. When I got the money, I bought my mother a gold chain. I was extremely happy."

For Inamdar, however, the journey is bigger than medals. He now shares his experiences with younger players, hoping they can find a path through difficulties that he had to navigate alone. He has been honing his skills for Puneri Paltan in the PKL and now the Asian Games Gold adds another crown jewel in his career.