Shani Gupta

Meet a passionate kabaddi player from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, whose journey began at the age of 15. Growing up, he was influenced by his family's supportive atmosphere, with his father, Bholanath Gupta, working diligently as a shopkeeper and his mother, Sheela Gupta, managing their home. Surrounded by his two elder sisters, Shivani and Rani, and a younger sister, Shalini, he found inspiration and motivation in their encouragement, even though they aren’t involved in kabaddi. He honed his skills at school, which ignited his love for the game and eventually led him to the prestigious JD Academy in Greater Noida for professional training. Under the guidance of coach Jitendar Nagar since 2021, he's developed into a formidable Left Corner Defender, with a particular knack for blocking. His favorite players, Rahul Choudhari and Jeeva Kumar, inspire him to push his limits further. As he showcased his talent in the K7 in Meerut and through state championships, he dreams of making it big in the Yuva Kabaddi Series and the Pro Kabaddi League. In the meantime, he’s focused on his undergraduate studies, hoping to secure a government job while proudly representing India on the kabaddi mat one day.