PKL 2017: Amaresh Mondal's inspiring journey from slums to Bengal Warriors team

Kolkata, Sep 7: Amaresh Mondal used to live in a slum area in Bangaon, located on the borderline of India and Bangladesh. It takes more than three hours from Kolkata via train to reach Bangaon.

Living in a slum and grappling with poverty what else can one choose as game other than kabaddi? Amaresh's case was no exception either. He also used to play on the muddy field along with his neighbours, and in the dirty and polluted pond in their locality.

He had another disadvantageous point that he had not seen his parents since his childhood as both of them were missing. His grand parents looked after the young boy, who had to face a lot of social ignominies so he made kabaddi his passion.

Today, Amaresh Mondal is the only Bengali player to have ensured a berth in the Bengal Warriors team in the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League 2017.

After playing the game for some years quite recklessly with local boys, he joined his colony school. Amaresh used to take mid-day meal in his school.

The Bengal Warriors player, remembering those days, became emotional and told MyKhel, "The midday meal was very unhealthy and it was made so carelessly that we had to struggle a lot to digest it. Still, I took it as I knew I needed strength to play kabaddi."

Amaresh has represented Bengal at the junior level. After getting out of that colony school he got a chance in the coaching camp, being run by Biswajit Palit, the member of the gold winning Indian kabaddi team in 1994 Asian Games.

Biswajit, when asked about Amaresh, said, "He was talented. He has a big prospect of representing senior Indian team in the forthcoming international tournaments."

Amaresh has not got a chance of playing in any match in the ongoing league. But he looks confident.

"The coach is happy with me in the training. So I must get into the first team and perform," he signed off.