Kasinatha Baskaran

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Baskaran
Baskaran Wins World Cup 2016
Personal information
Full nameBaskaran Kasinathan
NationalityIndian
Born (1968-06-28) 28 June 1968 (age 55)
Sooliyakottai, Saliymangalam, Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, India
EducationU.A.A.T Hr Sec School, Ammapet
Occupation(s)Coach, India national kabaddi team
Years active1989 - 2002
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight95 kg (209 lb)
Website[1]
Sport
CountryIndia
SportKabaddi
PositionAll Rounder
LeaguePro Kabaddi League
ClubTamil Thalaivas
TeamIndia national kabaddi team
Turned pro1988
Achievements and titles
Highest world rankingWorld No. 1
Medal record
Representing  India
Sports
Gold medal – first place 1994 Hiroshima Team
Gold medal – first place 1995 Chennai Team

K. Baskaran or Baskaran Kasinathan (born 28 June 1968) is a professional Indian Kabaddi sportsman who has represented Indian National Men's Kabaddi team in International games and is mentoring as a Kabaddi Coach. He has won national as well as international medals. He has been a professional coach for International teams and Kabaddi League franchises. He serves as a coach for the Indian National Men's Kabaddi team and the coach for the Pro Kabaddi franchise Bengal Warriors.

He is an active sports enthusiast and apart from being a coach he also concentrates on identifying and training young athletes.

Personal life[edit]

K. Baskaran is the fourth child of Kasinathan-Krishnammal couple born at Sooliyakottai, Tanjore in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He studied at Government School of Sooliyakottai, Ammapettai Saliyamangalam. He graduated from Madurai Kamarajar University. He earned a degree as Specialist Coach from National Institute of Sports, Bangalore.

He started playing Kabaddi at age 12. He rose to fame when he represented the National Team and gained media attention since his association with the Indian Pro Kabaddi League as a coach and as a coach in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.[2]

K. Baskran is married to B. Prabha and he has three children: son B. Soorya, a discus athlete and two daughters B. Neetaa and B. Neerajaa both of whom play basketball.

Achievements[edit]

Top Achievements in National and International Levels
Competition Venue Year Position
Asian Games Hiroshima, Japan 1994 Gold
Saf Games (captain) Chennai, India 1995 Gold
Test Series (India vs Sri Lanka (captain) Thanjavur, India 1997 First
Senior Nationals 1993-1996 3 consecutive Gold
National Games Pune 1993 Gold
All India Kabaddi Federation Cup 1995 Gold
Senior Nationals 1996-1997 Silver
National Games 1997 Bronze
Senior Nationals 1996-1997 Bronze

Player[edit]

Baskaran was coached by Mr. Swaminathan and Mr. Shanmugasundaram during his school days. He was inspired to play Kabaddi by Raja Rajendran, a Tamil Nadu Kabaddi player and an employee of TNEB. He had participated in the Republic Day Sports Meet and placed 2nd in 1984-85 and 1st in 1985-86. In 1987 he was given an appointment in Sports Quota in Pandian Roadways Corporation, Madurai. From 1989-92, he played for ICF Chennai and during 1992-98 he was an Inspector Central Excise Madurai. From 2003-05 he played for Air India on a contract basis.

Coach[edit]

In 2004, Baskaran obtained a degree from the National Institute of Sports as a Specialist Coach. He was appointed as the Indian Coach for Junior Probables in Kabaddi in 2009. He rose to International attention during this period and was appointed as the Coach for Thailand National Kabaddi Team. In 2010 he coached the Malaysian National Kabaddi Team and was mainly associated with the preparation and selection process for the 2010 Asian Games. In 2014 he mentored the Indian Men’s Kabaddi team for the Beach Asian Games 2014 held in Thailand. The team secured the bronze medal in the event.

Pro Kabaddi League[edit]

In 2014 the Pro Kabaddi League began, a sports event for Kabaddi played among various Kabaddi franchises of India. K. Baskaran led the Pink Panthers franchise to its maiden victory at the inaugural event. He remained as the Pink Panthers coach from 2014 to 2016. He started coaching the Puneri Paltans franchise from 2016 and secured third place in season four.[3][4][5] He was the head coach of Tamil Thalaivas in Pro Kabbadi 2017.[6]

He was head coach for Vizag Whirlwinds in the Pro Kabaddi League.

World Cup[edit]

India has an undisputed run as a champion in international Kabaddi matches. The 2016 Kabaddi World Cup was conducted among twelve nations. Baskaran acted as Coach for the Indian Men’s team. The team went on to beat Iran in the finals and become champions for the third consecutive time.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "FROM OBSCURITY, KABADDI PLAYERS NOW REVEL IN STARDOM". Bangalore Mirror. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Interview with Kasinathan Baskaran: "All the teams in the Pro Kabaddi League are the same this season"". Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Interview with Kasinathan Baskaran: "All the teams in the Pro Kabaddi League are the same this season"". Sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Will government announce rewards for Kabaddi team ?". Sportstarlive.com. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Tamil Nadu: Nurtured in rural Tamil Nadu, kabaddi players make a mark at World Cup". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Tamil Thalaivas Team 2021 | Player List, Name, Bio, Stats, Records, Squads - Pro Kabaddi".