https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Manathi_GanesanManathi Ganesan - Revision history2026-07-31T05:03:24ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Manathi_Ganesan&diff=515707&oldid=prevNorrisKruttschni at 00:12, 12 March 20262026-03-12T00:12:27Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian kabaddi player and Arjuna Award winner}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox sportsperson<br />
| name = P. Ganesan<br />
| image = P. Ganesan Arjun Award Winners of Kabaddi 1995.png<br />
| caption = P. Ganesan receiving the Arjuna Award (1995)<br />
| fullname = Perumal Ganesan<br />
| nationality = {{IND}}<br />
| birth_place = Manathi, [[Thoothukudi district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India<br />
| country = {{IND}}<br />
| sport = [[Kabaddi]]<br />
| position = Raider<br />
| years_active = Late 1980s–1990s<br />
| show-medals = yes<br />
| medaltemplates =<br />
{{MedalSport|Men's [[kabaddi]]}}<br />
{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}<br />
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Games]]}}<br />
{{MedalGold|[[1994 Asian Games]]|Team}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''P. Ganesan''', popularly known as '''Manathi Ganesan''', is an Indian former [[kabaddi]] player from Tamil Nadu who was part of the Indian men's team that won the gold medal at the [[1994 Asian Games]] in Hiroshima. He received the Arjuna Award in 1995 for his contributions to kabaddi.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arjuna Award Winners – Kabaddi |url=https://www.indiankabaddi.org/award-winners.html |website=Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Games Medalists – Kabaddi, 1994 |url=https://www.olympiandatabase.com/index.php?id=316200&L=2 |website=Olympian Database |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Early life ==<br />
Ganesan was born in the village of Manathi in present-day [[Thoothukudi district]] of Tamil Nadu. He was initially active in local-level sports before taking up kabaddi seriously in the late 1980s. His powerful raiding style and village-based training earned him the nickname "Manathi Ganesan".<ref>{{cite news |script-title=ta:காளமாடன் வருகை... யார் இந்த மணத்தி கணேசன்? |trans-title=Here comes ''Kaalamaadan''… Who is this Manathi Ganesan? |url=https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2025/Oct/14/manathi-p-kanesan |work=Dinamani |language=ta |date=14 October 2025 |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Playing career ==<br />
<br />
=== Domestic career ===<br />
Ganesan rose through district-level tournaments in southern Tamil Nadu, representing local clubs and departmental teams. He played for Sun Paper Mills, one of the strongest kabaddi sides in Tamil Nadu during the era, gaining visibility as a high-impact raider.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=ta:காளமாடன் வருகை... யார் இந்த மணத்தி கணேசன்? |trans-title=Who is this Manathi Ganesan? |url=https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2025/Oct/14/manathi-p-kanesan |work=Dinamani |date=14 October 2025 |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><br />
<br />
He later joined the sports quota of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (now TANGEDCO), continuing to play in state and national competitions representing departmental teams.<br />
<br />
=== International career ===<br />
Ganesan was selected to the Indian national men's kabaddi team in the early 1990s. He competed at the '''1994 Asian Games''' in Hiroshima, where the Indian team won the gold medal in men's kabaddi, continuing India's dominance in the sport.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Games Kabaddi 1994 – Hiroshima (Archived) |url=http://www.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp/C/ASIA/Sports/Result/eachgame/kabaddi.html |website=Wayback Machine |access-date=16 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970804231351/http://www.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp/C/ASIA/Sports/Result/eachgame/kabaddi.html |archive-date=1997-08-04}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Style of play ==<br />
Tamil-language media described Ganesan as a physically dominant player, known for forceful raids and powerful blocks that earned him the "Bison-like" reputation later used in portrayals of his life.<ref>{{cite news |title=Is “Bison Kaalamaadan” based on a true story? |url=https://newsit.live/news/68ee3e5427093cc50fed5c12 |website=NewsIT |date=14 October 2025 |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Awards and honours ==<br />
* '''Arjuna Award''' – 1995 (Kabaddi)<ref>{{cite web |title=Arjuna Award Winners – Kabaddi |url=https://www.indiankabaddi.org/award-winners.html |website=AKFI |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><br />
* '''Gold medal''' – Men's Kabaddi, '''1994 Asian Games'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Games Kabaddi Results |url=https://www.olympiandatabase.com/index.php?id=316200&L=2 |website=Olympian Database}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Later life ==<br />
Following his playing career, Ganesan worked as a Senior Sports Officer in TANGEDCO and continued mentoring kabaddi athletes in Tamil Nadu. He has been a guest at several kabaddi events and is regarded as an important figure in the sport's development in the region.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manathi Ganesan on 'Bison': They have strived for the film like I did on field |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Oct/17/manathi-ganesan-on-bison |work=Cinema Express |date=17 October 2025 |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><br />
<br />
== In popular culture ==<br />
In 2025, Tamil film-maker [[Mari Selvaraj]] released ''[[Bison Kaalamaadan]]'', which was widely reported as being inspired by the life of Manathi P. Ganesan. Actor Dhruv Vikram trained in kabaddi for the role, with Ganesan providing guidance to the production team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bison: Mari Selvaraj reveals Rajinikanth's reaction |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/bison-mari-selvaraj-reveals-rajinikanths-reaction-says-his-appreciation-is-my-biggest-reward/articleshow/124758060.cms |work=The Times of India |date=23 October 2025 |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Bison Kaalamaadan' trailer features Dhruv Vikram as Manathi Ganesan |url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/35736/bison-trailer-dhruv-vikram-mari-selvaraj-manathi-p-ganesan |work=MovieCrow |date=13 October 2025 |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref><br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganesan, Manathi}}<br />
[[Category:Indian kabaddi players]]<br />
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for India]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]<br />
[[Category:Kabaddi players at the 1994 Asian Games]]<br />
[[Category:People from Thoothukudi district]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]</div>NorrisKruttschni