>FrescoBot at 05:06, 1 November 2020

2020-11-01T05:06:04Z

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{{short description|Indian Kabaddi player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Dharmaraj Cheralathan
| image =
| caption=Dharmaraj Cheralathan in Kabbadi World Cup 2016
| headercolor =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name =
| fullname = Dharmaraj Cheralathan
| nickname = Anna<ref name="Dharmaraj Cheralathan Sportskeeda">{{cite web |last1=Sportskeeda |first1=Sportskeeda |title=Dharmaraj Cheralathan |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/dharmaraj-cheralathan |website=Sportskeeda |publisher=Sportskeeda |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=1}}</ref>
| nationality = [[India]]n
| ethnicity =
| citizenship = [[India]]n
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|04|21|df=y}}<ref name="Dharmaraj Cheralathan Sportskeeda">{{cite web |last1=Sportskeeda |first1=Sportskeeda |title=Dharmaraj Cheralathan |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/dharmaraj-cheralathan |website=Sportskeeda |publisher=Sportskeeda |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=1}}</ref>
| birth_place = Thiruchanampondi, [[Tamil Nadu]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Kabbadi Player
| years_active = 1989 – present
| employer =
| agent =
| height = {{height|precision=0|cm=175}}<ref name="Dharmaraj Cheralathan Sportskeeda">{{cite web |last1=Sportskeeda |first1=Sportskeeda |title=Dharmaraj Cheralathan |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/dharmaraj-cheralathan |website=Sportskeeda |publisher=Sportskeeda |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=1}}</ref>
| weight = {{convert|78.6|kg|lb|0}}
| spouse =
| life_partner =
| other_interests =
| website =
| country = [[India]]
| sport = [[Kabaddi]]
| position = Defender Left and right corner
| event =
| league = [[Pro Kabaddi League]]
| league_type =
| club = [[Haryana Steelers]], [[Telugu Titans]], [[Bengaluru Bulls]], [[Patna Pirates]], [[Puneri Paltan]], [[U Mumba]]
| team = [[India national kabaddi team]]
| turnedpro =
| coach =
| retired =
| worlds =
| regionals =
| nationals =
| highestranking =
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{IND}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[2016 Kabaddi World Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2016 Kabaddi World Cup|2016 Ahmedabad]]|[[2016 Kabaddi World Cup|Team]]}}
}}
| show-medals = yes
}}

'''Dharmaraj Cheralathan''' (born 21 April 1975) is an [[Indian Kabaddi Team (men's division)|Indian Kabaddi player]] who currently represents [[Haryana Steelers]] in the [[Pro Kabaddi League|VIVO Pro Kabaddi league]]. He was a member of the Indian Kabaddi team that won gold at the [[2016 Kabaddi World Cup|Kabaddi World Cup]] in 2016. Nicknamed “Anna”, Cheralathan led [[Patna Pirates]] to the Pro Kabaddi league in Season 4 and is one of the leading Super Tackle scorers in VIVO Pro Kabaddi history. He is capable of playing as both a right and left corner, Cheralathan has more than two decades of experience. The veteran defender is tactically sound and has consistently combined his experience and intelligence to outwit raiders.

== Early life ==
Cheralathan comes from a farming family in Tamil Nadu. He has one brother and two sisters. According to him, farming was all that was important to him while growing up. Even his brother is a farmer. They spent a lot of their young days working in the fields. Cheralathan's brother, D. Gopu, has also played in the Pro Kabaddi league and was a defender for Tamil Thalaivas in Season 6.<ref name="Dharmaraj Cheralathan Sportskeeda" />

== Kabaddi career ==
'''Pro Kabaddi career'''

=== Season 1 ===

Cheralathan played for Bengaluru Bulls in the inaugural season and scored 39 raid points as well as 13 tackle points.<ref name="pkl stats">{{cite web |last1=Cheralatharan |first1=Dharmaraj |title=stats |url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/stats |website=prokabaddi |publisher=prokabaddi |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=3}}</ref> He had a tackle strike rate of 56.52% and was a nightmare for opposition raiders to deal with.<ref name="pkl playerprofile">{{cite web |last1=Cheralathan |first1=Dharmaraj |title=dharmaraj-cheralathan-playerprofile |url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/players/42-dharmaraj-cheralathan-playerprofile |website=prokabaddi |publisher=prokabaddi |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=2}}</ref>

=== Season 2 ===

With 42 tackle points, Cheralathan led the Bengaluru Bulls defence in the second season. He also contributed in attack with 19 raid points.<ref name="pkl stats"/> His tackle strike rate of 61.76%<ref name="pkl stats"/> is undoubtedly impressive, but what stood out from this season was his success while raiding.<ref name="pkl playerprofile"/>

=== Season 3 ===

He was bought by Telugu Titans for the subsequent season and scored 31 tackle points<ref name="pkl stats"/> for the side from Hyderabad. Despite a slight dip in his tackle success rate, Cheralathan still averaged a tackle strike rate of more than 50%.<ref name="pkl playerprofile"/>

=== Season 4 ===

Patna Pirates roped in Cheralathan ahead of the fourth season for Rs 29 lakh and appointed him as captain.<ref name="Dharmaraj Cheralathan Sportskeeda">{{cite web |last1=Sportskeeda |first1=Sportskeeda |title=Dharmaraj Cheralathan |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/dharmaraj-cheralathan |website=Sportskeeda |publisher=Sportskeeda |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=1}}</ref> He scored 39 tackle points and was rock-solid in defence as the Pirates made it back-to-back league titles. Cheralathan also topped the Super Tackles chart in the fourth season with 8 to his name.<ref name="pkl stats"/>

=== Season 5 ===

He moved to Puneri Paltan for the following edition and only managed to score 25 tackle points with the Pune-based side. Cheralathan played 18 games for Pune but couldn't score more than 4 points in any of those contests.<ref name="pkl stats"/>

=== Season 6 ===

After joining U Mumba in 2018, Cheralathan enjoyed a renaissance and scored an impressive 40 tackle points. He had a tackle strike rate of 57.97% and produced a defensive masterclass during U Mumba's win over Gujarat Fortunegiants in Delhi. Cheralathan's High 5 on the night against Season 6's finalists helped his side secure a victory.<ref name="season 6 stats">{{cite web |last1=prokabaddi |first1=prokabaddi |title=dominant-defence-sees-u-mumba-secure-first-victory-over-gujarat-fortunegiants |url=https://www.prokabaddi.com/news/dominant-defence-sees-u-mumba-secure-first-victory-over-gujarat-fortunegiants |website=prokabaddi |publisher=prokabaddi |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=4}}</ref>

'''International'''

A member of the Kabaddi Hall of Fame, Cheralathan holds nine gold medals from events such as the Kabaddi National Championship,<ref name="Dharmaraj Cheralathan Sportskeeda">{{cite web |last1=Sportskeeda |first1=Sportskeeda |title=Dharmaraj Cheralathan |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/dharmaraj-cheralathan |website=Sportskeeda |publisher=Sportskeeda |accessdate=27 June 2019 |ref=1}}</ref> the [[2017 Southeast Asian Games]] and the [[Asian Beach Games]].

==Records and achievements==
* VIVO Pro Kabaddi Champion (2016)
* 2016 Kabaddi World Cup winner
* Gold at 2017 Southeast Asian Games
* Gold at 2017 Asian Beach Games

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheralathan, Dharmaraj}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Indian kabaddi players]]
[[Category:Kabaddi players from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Tamil sportspeople]]

Dharmaraj Cheralathan - Revision history

>FrescoBot at 05:06, 1 November 2020