Narender Kandola: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More
Narender Kandola is a 24-year-old kabaddi player who plays as a raider for Tamil Thalaivas in the Pro Kabaddi League. Born on October 7, 2000, in Budain village, Haryana, Narender has become one of the most promising young talents in Indian kabaddi. Known by his childhood nickname “Nanha” which means “small,” he has grown from a village boy watching kabaddi matches to a star player representing India on international stages.
The young raider made his PKL debut in Season 9 (2022) with Tamil Thalaivas and has been with the team ever since. His biggest achievement came in 2023 when he won a gold medal at the Junior World Kabaddi Championship in Iran, helping India defeat the host nation 41-33 in the final. With 533 total points and 29 Super 10s in his PKL career so far, Narender continues to establish himself as a key player for his team.
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Narender Hoshiyar Kandola |
| Date of Birth | October 7, 2000 |
| Age | 24 years (as of 2025) |
| Birth Place | Budain village, Haryana |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches |
| Position | Raider |
| Current Team | Tamil Thalaivas |
| PKL Debut | Season 9 (Tamil Thalaivas) |
| Major Achievement | Gold Medal – Junior World Championship 2023 |
Early Life & Family
Narender Kandola was born and raised in Budain village in Haryana state. Growing up in a small rural community, young Narender was always drawn to kabaddi from an early age. His childhood was spent watching older boys play kabaddi on the dusty village grounds. Because he was shorter than other kids his age, everyone in the village started calling him “Nanha,” which means “small” in Hindi.
“Even now, in the village, everyone who used to play with me calls me by my nickname ‘Nanha,'” Narender remembers. “I wasn’t very tall as a kid, which is why the name stuck. Now I have a decent height, but the name still remains”. His full name is Narender Hoshiyar Kandola, where Hoshiyar is his father’s name.
The young boy spent most of his time as a spectator, watching the senior players practice with great interest. “As a kid, I was drawn to the kabaddi grounds where the older boys played,” he says. “What started as fun with the senior players soon became a passion. At first, I was just a spectator who didn’t have many friends, but before I knew it, kabaddi gave me a family”.
His dedication to the sport was noticed by local coach Sandeep Kandola (no relation), who played a crucial role in shaping his early career. “A small kid used to come to watch the senior players practice with a lot of dedication,” Sandeep Kandola recalls. “Seeing him show such interest in the sport, I encouraged him to play every day”.
Domestic Career
Before joining the Pro Kabaddi League, Narender Kandola represented Haryana in various national competitions. He played in national games for his state and participated in domestic tournaments that helped him develop his skills as a raider. His domestic career laid the foundation for his future success in professional kabaddi.
During his domestic playing days, Narender trained under the guidance of Sandeep Kandola at the local kabaddi academy in his village. The coach, who had his own kabaddi background and a government job, continued the tradition of training young players in their village. “My family and my coach have been very important in my development as a kabaddi player,” Narender acknowledges. “My coach has kept the tradition of playing the sport alive in our village in Haryana. In fact, he still trains the younger kids in our village!”
His performance in domestic competitions caught the attention of PKL scouts, leading to his selection for Tamil Thalaivas in 2022. Before making his PKL debut, he also trained at the Parveen and Jasvir Panipat Kabaddi Academy and participated in K7 Qualifiers in 2021.
PKL Journey
Narender Kandola entered the Pro Kabaddi League as a relatively unknown player when he joined Tamil Thalaivas in Season 9 (2022). His journey in the PKL has been one of steady growth and improvement. Initially, he faced challenges adapting to the professional level of the game, but his determination helped him overcome these obstacles.
A turning point came during his early days with Tamil Thalaivas. CEO Shushen Vashishth recalls a crucial moment: “I remember we were in Chennai; we had just lost a match. Narender was very disappointed with his performance because he didn’t know what had happened. He said, ‘I couldn’t move my legs'”.
This setback became a learning opportunity. “There was a little bit of body movement that our analyst identified. He carried this from Season 9 to Season 10, and he had to work on it. Since rectifying it, he practiced hard, and from then on, it was like Super 10, Super 10, Super 10 for the rest of the season!” explains Vashishth.
PKL Statistics Table
| Season | Team | Matches Played | Raid Points | Tackle Points | Total Points |
| Season 9 (2022) | Tamil Thalaivas | 23 | 243 | 6 | 249 |
| Season 10 (2023/24) | Tamil Thalaivas | 21 | 195 | 186 | 9 |
| Season 11 (2024) | Tamil Thalaivas | 13 | 82 | 6 | 88 |
| Season 12 (2025) | Tamil Thalaivas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Overall | – | 58 | 512 | 21 | 533 |
By Season 11 (2024), Narender had established himself as a regular raider for Tamil Thalaivas, playing 13 matches and scoring 88 points. His overall PKL career statistics show 533 total points from 57 matches, with an impressive raid strike rate of 58.38%. He has achieved 29 Super 10s (games with 10 or more raid points), which shows his consistency as a raider.
His raiding statistics include 877 total raids, out of which 404 were successful, giving him a success rate of 58.38%. He has also scored 139 bonus points through his raids and contributed 373 points via touch raids. These numbers place him among the promising young raiders in the PKL.
Indian Kabaddi Team Journey
Narender Kandola’s biggest achievement came when he represented India at the Junior World Kabaddi Championship in 2023. The tournament was held in Urmia, Iran, where India faced the host nation in the final.
The final match was a thrilling encounter where India was trailing 18-19 at halftime. However, the Indian team made a remarkable comeback in the second half, with Narender Kandola and Jai Bhagwan playing key roles in the victory. India eventually won the match 41-33 to claim the gold medal.
“The credit goes to the brilliant performances of Narender Kandola and Jai Bhagwan, who played exceptionally well to lead their team to victory,” noted the Times of India report. This victory made India the Junior World Kabaddi Champions for the first time.
Earlier in the tournament, India had defeated Pakistan by a massive 75-29 margin to qualify for the final. They also had a convincing victory against Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinal with a score of 54-36. The Indian team finished the tournament unbeaten.
“It was a very proud moment to represent the country,” Narender said with emotion after the victory. “The better we do, the better it is for us”.
PKL Achievements
Narender Kandola has achieved several milestones during his PKL career with Tamil Thalaivas:
Individual Statistics:
- Total PKL Points: 533
- Super 10s: 29
His playing style is known for low crouches, quick lunges, and sudden turns that surprise defenders. Sports analysts have rated his performance highly, with some comparing his early career trajectory to established PKL stars.
Social Media and More
Narender Kandola maintains an active presence on social media, particularly Instagram, where he goes by the handle @narender_kandola_8. His Instagram profile has gained significant popularity, with over 113,000 followers. His bio reads: “Success is no accident. It is hard work perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, live of what are you doing or learning to do”.
His social media content is mostly focused on kabaddi, featuring game highlights, training sessions, and moments from his PKL journey. He regularly posts updates about his matches and team activities. His posts often inspire young kabaddi players who look up to him as a role model.
The player also has a fan following on social media, with dedicated fan pages created by supporters. One such fan page @narender_kandola_8.fangirl has over 9,500 followers, showing his growing popularity among kabaddi fans.
Narender’s social media presence reflects his humble personality and dedication to the sport. He often shares motivational content and behind-the-scenes glimpses of his professional life as a kabaddi player. His posts show his commitment to continuous improvement and his gratitude for the opportunities kabaddi has provided him.
Personal Life:
As of 2025, Narender Kandola is unmarried and focused entirely on his kabaddi career. He prefers to keep his personal life private, with most of his public appearances and social media content centered around his professional achievements. His estimated net worth is above ₹70 lakh as of 2025.
Conclusion
Narender Kandola’s journey from “Nanha” of Budain village to a star raider in the Pro Kabaddi League shows the power of dedication and hard work. At just 24 years old, he has already achieved significant success, including a gold medal at the Junior World Kabaddi Championship and establishing himself as a key player for Tamil Thalaivas.
His story represents the growing opportunities in Indian kabaddi and how the Pro Kabaddi League has changed the lives of players from small villages. “Now, thanks to the Pro Kabaddi League and Mashal Sports, everyone recognizes me,” Narender says. “The league has helped improve the visibility of kabaddi players. It has also benefited me a lot, in terms of both money and recognition”.
With 533 PKL points and 29 Super 10s already to his name, Narender Kandola continues to grow as a player. His consistent performance and positive attitude make him one of the most promising young talents in Indian kabaddi. As he continues his journey with Tamil Thalaivas, fans and experts expect him to achieve even greater heights in the coming seasons.
