Rupesh Salunkhe

Rupesh Salunkhe, born on August 14, 2004, in Satara, Maharashtra, currently residing in Sion, Mumbai, is a kabaddi player representing Mumbai Shahar in the KMP YKS 2024 tournament. Despite being the son of a taxi driver, Lahu Anandrao Salunkhe, and having his mother, Sadhna, as a homemaker, Rupesh has pursued his passion for kabaddi with dedication. Growing up with an elder brother, Ruturaj, who also plays kabaddi, Rupesh was introduced to the sport at a young age. He started playing kabaddi seriously at the age of 8, primarily taking up the position of Left Corner Defender on the mat. Rupesh's mastery lies in executing ankle holds effectively, which makes him a formidable defender. Under the guidance of coach Sandeep Kalgaokar at the Siddhi Prabha Foundation in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Rupesh continues to hone his skills. His favorite player, Aslam Inamdar, a Puneri Paltan player, is admired for his excellent raiding skills and charismatic personality, serving as a source of inspiration for Rupesh. Besides kabaddi, Rupesh enjoys playing cricket and actively participates in other sports. Although Rupesh has represented his state in the Junior State tournament in Ahmednagar in 2021, his career highlight remains his debut at the state level. Looking ahead, Rupesh aspires to compete in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) and secure a government job, preferably in the banking or railway sector. With his determination and talent, Rupesh aims to achieve success both on and off the kabaddi mat.