A crowd of nearly 5,000 people came to the airport to receive Aamir Hamid Wani. It was as if a warrior had returned home, victorious from battle.
But this was a victory of a different kind.
At the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) auctions last month, the Jaipur Pink Panther picked up Wani making him the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to make the cut in the league.
In the village of Dadoora, just 33 kilometers from the serene city of Srinagar, his mother and family had shed tears of joy when Wani informed them via phone of his historic feat.
For a kid who was once mocked by villagers for displaying interest in sport, the tables have now turned.
Kabaddi not the first calling
Incidentally, Kabaddi was not a popular sport in Aamir’s area, cricket was. Despite this, Aamir’s passion for Kabaddi grew stronger.
Aamir’s mother, Zareefa Begum, shared a glimpse into his determination.
“I have four children, and three of them are in private schools. Aamir was attending a government school. I felt it would be unfair to leave him behind, so I offered to enroll him in a private school too. But Aamir was adamant. He insisted that if he continued his education, it would be at the government school, and if not, he wouldn’t attend any school at all. Respecting his choice, he completed his studies there.”
In the early stages, Aamir did not receive support from his family due to the lack of a sports culture in the region.
His mother, Zareefa Begum, recalled, “When Aamir started playing Kabaddi, we were concerned that he was jeopardizing his future. We faced a lack of support, and villagers even criticized us for neglecting our child and that he was aimlessly wandering. Despite this, Aamir continued to play well, and eventually he went to Jammu and got selected there. It was a turning point that brought happiness to us.”
“As his mother, I supported him wholeheartedly and prayed to God that he wouldn’t stray from the right path,” said Zareefa Begum. (Photo Credit: Danish Showkat)
Self-motivated
Aamir began his Kabaddi career in 2019 and played for Jammu and Kashmir for about a year. He soon realized that the lack of available sports coaches and proper training in his region was a hindrance to reaching the national level. In search of better opportunities, he researched India’s top academies and found Midline Academy in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He contacted them in December 2020 and spoke with the academy’s head, Mr. Aniket Mhatre. Aamir joined the academy for training and has been training there for the past four years.
However, after performing well and getting selected at the national level, Aamir’s achievements were published in newspapers. His family then realized his success and began supporting him. Friends like senior player Hashim Ali and Irfan Mir, along with many others from his village, also supported him.
“As his mother, I supported him wholeheartedly and prayed to God that he wouldn’t stray from the right path. I’m grateful that he succeeded,” said Zareefa Begum.
One of the toughest challenges was dealing with injuries, as recovering from them was difficult. He also encountered societal pressure; when he was selected for the nationals and prepared to leave, neighbours told his father, “Where is your son going? How come you are ruining his career? It’s better that he should study.”
This reaction stemmed from Kabaddi’s lack of popularity in his area, which makes the initial stages of his journey extremely challenging.
Despite these taunts, Wani’s mother was steadfast and believed in her son.
A dedicated camper
Aniket Mhatre, the head coach of Midline Kabaddi, has been associated with Amir since 20233. According to him, Amir’s dedication is unparalleled.
“Amir’s dedication was evident from the beginning—he put in the hard work and never compromised on his training. In Kashmir’s harsh conditions, where temperatures soar up to 25 °C, Amir’s perseverance was extraordinary. It’s not easy for someone accustomed to 25°C to train in extreme heat outside his region where the temperature goes over 40°C, but his determination paid off.”
The ongoing conflict in Kashmir added further challenges to his training. In Pulwama, he could only practice for two days, and then the playground would be closed for up to two weeks. This situation drove him to seek training opportunities in Maharashtra.
And this dedication of Amir is recognised by the elders in his family.
Aamir received a hero’s welcome upon his return. (Photo Credit: Danish Showkat)
A beacon of hope
“Aamir has put in years of relentless effort since his childhood. I remember his grandfather always speaking proudly of him. Even when Amir was away from home, his grandfather would say to everyone, ‘Amir is my brave son.’ He would often express how much he missed him,” said Haji Ali Mohammad, a respected elder and uncle to Amir.
For a state where insurgency and conflict has brought constant agony, Amir’s selection had brought joy and hope.
“We’ve never witnessed such joy before. This is the first time a Kashmiri youth has made it to the Pro Kabaddi League, and it feels like a landmark achievement for all of us,” said a beaming Haji Ali Mohammad, while adding that this was a ‘moment of pride for the whole community.’
And the community is now looking up to him.
Inspired by Aamir’s selection, players from the region are now putting in the extra yards. “After his selection, the boys are working very hard. They practice 24 hours a day. There is hope that we, too, will not only make Jammu and Kashmir proud but also bring honor to all of India,” said , Saqib Altaf, a prominent player from Jammu and Kashmir.
As for Aamir, he is grounded, knowing full well without support, he could not have gotten this far.
“My selection for the 70th Senior National Kabaddi Championship from the J&K team, held in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, opened the doors to my Kabaddi journey. If the association hadn’t given me that crucial opportunity, I wouldn’t have achieved the success I have today,” said Amir while acknowledging the support of Aniket Mhatre, the head coach of Midline Kadabbi.
That said, Aamir realises that his work has just begun.
“I practice diligently for 4 hours per day. I was bid at 9 lakhs by the Jaipur Pink Panthers. If I perform well in the next PKL season, my bid could rise to 45 lakhs or even 1 crore,” he concluded.