Pro-Kabaddi League: Deepak Hooda's selection creates furore

JAIPUR: Deepak Hooda has become the first Indian player in Pro-Kabaddi League history to join the 'crorepati' club after Jaipur Pink Panthers bought him for a whopping Rs 1.15 crore. But the selection sparked a controversy as a section of former international and national level players alleged that Hooda doesn't belong to Rajasthan.
Former internationals Heeranand Kataria and Giriraj Sharma levelled allegations of favouritism and said they will soon stage a 'sit-in' protest before the Assembly, seeking government intervention in this respect."We won't spare Rajasthan Kabaddi Association (RKA) secretary Govind Narayan Sharma for his role in the selection of Hooda," they said.
In response, Govind Narayan Sharma labelled their claims as 'completely false, motivated and without any basis'. "It is a pity that they is trying to cast aspersions on me," RKA secretary said in an official statement.
"I find it highly unprofessional of former internationals to act in such a manner." The RKS secretary also said that Hooda has been picked because he is very talented player. "There is no question of bias."
Sharma, while denying that any player was favoured, said that the primary yardstick for picking players for such big tournaments is sheer talent and nothing else. He said it is a growing period for kabaddi and "I think the younger generation steps into the auctions."