Satish Kannan: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More

In the competitive world of kabaddi, Satish Kannan stands out as a dedicated raider who has made steady progress through domestic tournaments to professional kabaddi. Satish Kannan’s journey from playing at Vels University to representing Tamil Thalaivas in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 10 and then moving to U Mumba in Season 11 shows his determination and growing skills as a professional kabaddi player. What makes his story interesting is his academic pursuit alongside his sporting career.

Category	Details
Full Name	Satish Kannan (also called Sathish Kannan Suryan)
Date of Birth	April 13, 2001
Age (as of 2025)	24 years
Position	Right Raider
Birthplace	Allur, Trichy, Tamil Nadu
Father’s Name	P Suriyamoorthy
Father’s Occupation	Farmer
Mother’s Name	Mala
Brothers	Suresh Kumar and Santosh Kanan
State Team	Tamil Nadu
National Competition	Senior National Kabaddi Championship
YKS Achievement	YKS TN Clubs 2024 with Vels University

Early Life & Family

Satish Kannan was born on April 13, 2001, in Allur, a town in Trichy district of Tamil Nadu. He comes from a farming family where both his parents, P Suriyamoorthy (father) and Mala (mother), are engaged in agriculture. This rural background has shaped Satish’s values and given him a strong work ethic that he applies both to his studies and kabaddi career.

Satish Kannan grew up in a sports-loving household with two elder brothers, Suresh Kumar and Santosh Kanan, who both play kabaddi. Having brothers who were already involved in kabaddi provided Satish with early exposure to the sport and created a supportive environment for his athletic development. The influence of his brothers played a significant role in inspiring him to take up kabaddi seriously.

At the age of 10, Satish Kannan began his kabaddi journey, showing natural talent and interest in the sport. His early training took place under the guidance of Ramakrishnan, who was his coach at SVV School. This foundational training was crucial in developing his basic skills and understanding of the game. Additionally, Satish also developed an interest in volleyball, which helped improve his overall athletic abilities and coordination.

Despite coming from a farming family with limited resources, Satish Kannan’s parents supported his sporting ambitions while ensuring he continued his education. This balance between academics and sports became a defining characteristic of his approach to life and career development.

Domestic Career

Satish Kannan’s domestic kabaddi career began during his school days and continued through his university years at Vels University. His early coach, Ramakrishnan from SVV School, laid the foundation for his kabaddi skills and helped him develop as a right raider.

One of Satish’s significant achievements in domestic kabaddi came during his time at Vels University, where he participated in the All India University Games. Vels University showed excellent performance in the South Zone Inter-University Kabaddi Championship for Men during the 2022-23 session. The university team, which included Satish Kannan, went on to win the South Zone championship, defeating teams like University of Mysore, Mangalore University, and SRM University in the process.

In the South Zone Inter-University Kabaddi Championship, Vels University demonstrated strong team performance. After defeating Bangalore University and other regional powerhouses, they secured the South Zone title with Satish Kannan being one of the key contributors to this success. This victory was particularly significant as it showcased the growing strength of kabaddi programs in Tamil Nadu universities.

Satish Kannan’s domestic career also includes participation in the Senior National Kabaddi Championship, representing Tamil Nadu state team. This experience at the national level provided him with exposure to high-quality competition and helped prepare him for professional kabaddi challenges. Playing for the state team also allowed him to showcase his skills to scouts and selectors from various professional teams.

His favorite player, Allu Prabha, who is well-known in his village, serves as a role model for Satish Kannan’s playing style and approach to the game. This local connection has motivated him to excel in kabaddi and potentially inspire other young players from his region.

PKL Journey

Satish Kannan made his Pro Kabaddi League debut in Season 10 (2023/24) with Tamil Thalaivas. He was picked up by the Tamil Thalaivas during the PKL 10 auction from Category D with a base price of INR 9 lakh, but his impressive potential earned him a contract worth INR 18.10 lakh.

This gave Satish the opportunity to represent his home state team, Tamil Thalaivas, which was particularly meaningful for a player from Tamil Nadu. However, his debut season proved challenging as he got limited playing opportunities. Throughout PKL Season 10, Satish played only 2 matches for Tamil Thalaivas and managed just 5 raids without scoring a single point. Despite this limited exposure, the experience provided valuable learning opportunities at the professional level

Before his PKL debut, Satish had shown promising performances in the Yuva Kabaddi Series. He was part of the Chola Veerans setup for the Winter Edition of 2022. During his stint with Chola Veerans, although he could play only 5 games, he impressed with his skillful raiding and point-scoring ability. Satish scored a total of 52 raid points at a strike rate of 57.14%, maintaining an outstanding average of 10.4 raid points per game. He also achieved 3 Super Raids and 3 Super 10s during this tournament.

In PKL Season 11, Satish moved to U Mumba, where he continued his professional journey. During this season, he played 3 matches and accumulated 12 points while maintaining an impressive raid strike rate of 71%. Although he didn’t get extensive playing time, his strike rate showed significant improvement from his previous performances.

One of his notable performances in Season 11 came in the match against Haryana Steelers, where he scored 9 raid points and was declared the best raider for U Mumba in that match. This performance demonstrated his ability to contribute effectively when given the opportunity to play.

For PKL Season 12, Satish Kannan has been retained by U Mumba as part of their core squad. The retention shows the team management’s faith in his potential and their plans to give him more opportunities in the upcoming season. He remains part of U Mumba’s raiding unit alongside other retained players like Ajit Chouhan.

Stats	Value
Total No. of Matches	8
Total Raids	24
Successful Raids %	50%
No. Of Super Raids	0
Super 10s	0
Total Raids Points	12
Average Raid Points/Match	1.5

Achievements

Satish Kannan’s achievements span across different levels of kabaddi competition, from university tournaments to professional leagues, showcasing his consistent development as a player.

University Level Achievements:

• South Zone Inter-University Kabaddi Championship winner with Vels University (2022-23)
• Defeated multiple top universities including University of Mysore, Mangalore University, and SRM University
• Key contributor to Vels University’s dominant performance in the championship
• Participated in All India University Games representing Vels University

Yuva Kabaddi Series Achievements:

• Played for Chola Veerans in Winter Edition 2022
• Scored 52 raid points in 5 games with 10.4 points per match average
• Achieved raid strike rate of 57.14% in YKS
• Recorded 3 Super Raids and 3 Super 10s
• Demonstrated consistent scoring ability across multiple matches

Pro Kabaddi League Achievements:

• PKL debut with Tamil Thalaivas in Season 10
• Best raider performance against Haryana Steelers with 9 raid points
• Retained by U Mumba for PKL Season 12

National Level Participation:

• Represented Tamil Nadu in Senior National Kabaddi Championship
• State team representation shows recognition of his talent at regional level

Academic Achievements:

• Pursuing MBA (final year) at Vels University while playing professional kabaddi
• Successfully balancing academics with professional sports career
• Maintained academic excellence alongside sporting commitments

YKS TN Clubs 2024:

• Continued participation with Vels University in YKS tournaments
• Ongoing contribution to university kabaddi program

Individual Recognition:

• Multiple match-winning performances in domestic tournaments
• Recognition as a reliable right raider with strong hand touch and bonus point skills

Conclusion

Satish Kannan’s journey from a farming family in Allur, Trichy, to becoming a professional kabaddi player represents determination and balanced approach to career development. His story shows how a young athlete can pursue professional sports while maintaining strong academic credentials through his MBA studies at Vels University. Starting kabaddi at age 10 under coach Ramakrishnan’s guidance, Satish has consistently worked on improving his skills as a right raider.

His domestic career achievements, particularly winning the South Zone Inter-University Kabaddi Championship with Vels University, provided him with the foundation needed for professional kabaddi. The experience gained from representing Tamil Nadu in Senior National Championships and his successful stint with Chola Veerans in the Yuva Kabaddi Series, where he averaged 10.4 raid points per match, demonstrated his scoring ability.

Satish’s PKL journey began with Tamil Thalaivas in Season 10, where despite limited playing time, he gained valuable professional experience. His move to U Mumba in Season 11 proved beneficial as he achieved an impressive 71% raid strike rate and contributed with 9 raid points in key matches like the one against Haryana Steelers. His retention by U Mumba for Season 12 indicates the team’s confidence in his potential for future seasons.

The young raider’s approach of combining education with sports, evidenced by his final year MBA studies, shows his practical mindset about building a sustainable career. His goal of securing a job through kabaddi reflects his understanding of using sports as a pathway for professional development. With two elder brothers also playing kabaddi and his family’s agricultural background, Satish brings strong values and work ethic to his professional career.

As he continues with U Mumba in PKL Season 12, Satish Kannan has the opportunity to establish himself as a regular contributor to the team’s raiding unit. His consistent improvement in strike rates, from 57.14% in YKS to 71% in PKL, shows his ability to adapt to higher levels of competition. For young kabaddi players from rural backgrounds, Satish’s journey demonstrates that with proper education, family support, and consistent performance, it is possible to build a career in professional kabaddi while maintaining academic excellence.