The journey of every sports legend begins somewhere, whether on cricket pitches, football fields, or kabaddi mats. For Dabang Delhi star Ashu Malik, it started on humble school grounds and local tournaments, where a young boy’s passion would eventually redefine kabaddi excellence.
“Earlier, there were so many senior players in the village who worked in the railways, and they used to play on the ground in my private school. Watching them play, I started becoming interested in the game,” Ashu reminisced in the ‘Rise of a Star’ video.
Watching local players sparked his interest, and their moves inspired him to embrace the sport with fervor. The path was far from smooth. His family initially resisted his dream of becoming a kabaddi player.
“My family would tell me to focus on studies. They were not supportive for the first 3-4 years. I would often make my family angry by going to tournaments,” he admitted. Despite the hurdles, Ashu’s determination remained unshaken.
Ashu’s turning point came with relentless discipline. “My weight was around 80 kg, and I reduced five kg,” he shared, highlighting the sacrifices he made to excel. His persistence paid off when he joined the Pro Kabaddi League.
Although he initially struggled to find his place, his leadership shone when it mattered most. During PKL 10, Ashu stepped up in the absence of star player Naveen Kumar. Ashu recalled “We didn’t let anyone’s morale drop.”
He added, “I told the team, ‘If he is not playing, what happened? We will win and cover his absence,'”. His inspiring leadership rallied his team, earning him recognition as the season’s best raider with 276 points and guiding Dabang Delhi K.C. to the semi-finals.
Now, in season 11, Ashu continues to shine with 174 points and 13 Super 10s, keeping Delhi among the top teams. His goal remains steadfast: “My only focus in practice is to make Delhi the champions,” he declared.