S Manikandan

Manikandan S, born on June 21, 2004, hails from Chettikulam, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, and represents the Nellai Kings in the YKS TN Clubs 2024 tournament. His father, Sudalaimani, works as a daily wage worker, while his mother, Murugakani, is a homemaker. Manikandan has three siblings: an elder brother named Panish and two younger brothers named Dhaneesh and Kannan. Kanan actively participates in kabaddi. Manikandan's journey in kabaddi commenced at the age of 7 when he was inspired by the widespread kabaddi games in his village. Excelling as a Left Cover Defender, his standout skill is the Running Dash. He received training from coaches Velmurugan and Siva, starting in 11th grade at SAV School, where he continues to practice. Pardeep Narwal is Manikandan's favorite player, as he initially began as a raider and drew inspiration from Pardeep's style of play. In fact, Manikandan even changed his Instagram handle to Manikandan Narwal. He has participated in various tournaments, including YKS - Summer'23 and Monsoon Edition'23 for Nilgiri Knights, South Zone University Games, All India University, Junior Federation Cup, and Junior Nationals. His favorite skill is the Chest Block. Besides kabaddi, Manikandan also enjoys playing volleyball. He completed his graduation in BA History and aims to secure a good government job, play in the Pro Kabaddi League, and maintain his cheerful demeanor. One of his career highlights was winning the Best Raider Award and a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 while representing Duraisingham at the All India Tournament in Hubli, Karnataka, in 2023. Described as a jolly fellow, Manikandan has participated in the YKS tournament twice previously and is known for his cheerful disposition.