For Aslam Inamdar, India’s kabaddi star, the road to the Asian Games gold medal was paved with hardship, resilience, and sheer determination.
Growing up in Taklibhan village, Ahilyanagar (Maharashtra), Inamdar survived by scavenging bottles to sell to scrap dealers, often sleeping under train seats while travelling across the state for kabaddi tournaments. With no money for tickets, he boarded trains illegally, surviving on vada pav or leftover food from tournaments — sometimes even eating it days later despite it going stale.
He worked at tea stalls, cleaned washrooms, washed utensils, and laboured in fields to support himself, all while nursing a fractured leg that once kept him off the mat. Yet, his passion for kabaddi never dimmed.
On September 26, 2026, the 26‑year‑old stood tall in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan, celebrating India’s thrilling victory over Iran in the men’s kabaddi final at the Asian Games. With a gold medal around his neck, Inamdar posed for selfies and reels for nearly half an hour, soaking in the moment that once seemed impossible.
“It still feels like a dream to me,” he said, reflecting on his journey from poverty to podium glory. His story is a testament to grit, sacrifice, and the power of sport to transform lives.
