Akshay Bhangre is the captain of the Gujarat Giants in the Ultimate Kho Kho League. Before his captaincy with the Giants, Bhangre had been given the post of captain in the Indian national team.
Joining Gujarat Giants in the inaugural season of UKKL, Bhangre soon adapted to his role as the all-rounder of the team. His performances soon caught the eye of the coach and management and won him the chance to captain his side, with P Narsayya appointed as vice-captain to assist Akshay Bhangre in leading the side.
The Ultimate Kho Kho League Season 2 saw the rise of a rejuvenated Gujarat Giants side under skipper Akshay Bhangre and took down all odds and challenges to claim the championship trophy.
Origin
Born on December 14, 1995, in Mumbai, Akshay's passion for Kho Kho ignited in the 5th grade. His dedication to the sport saw him quickly rise through the ranks, leading the Maharashtra team to two National Games trophies as captain.
Team India
His stellar performances earned him a spot on the Indian national team, where he later donned the captain's armband for the second time and led India to a gold medal at the 2023 South Asian Games.
A New Chapter with Gujarat Giants
The formation of the Ultimate Kho Kho League in 2022 opened a new door for Akshay Bhangre. It presented him with an opportunity to join the newly formed Gujarat Giants team, alongside former captain Ranjan Shetty, Abhinandan Patil, Suyash Gargate, and Vinayak Pokarde.
In their inaugural season, the Giants topped the league table, but fate intervened as they lost against the Odisha Juggernauts in Qualifier 1 and then lost to the Telugu Yoddhas in Qualifier 2. Despite these setbacks, Bhangre’s dazzling performance was highly praised.
The Season That Mattered The Most for Skipper Bhangre
Prior to the following season, the coach made Akshay the captain and placed P Narsayya as the Vice-Captain. Under the leadership of Bhangre, the team could secure a third-place spot in the table, securing a play-off spot for the Giants again.
The real drive for Gujarat Giants season came in the group stage, as they beat Rajasthan Warriors by the biggest margin of the Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2, 20 points. But the fact that the captain was one of the stars of the show was something that could not be denied. The win against the Warriors fixed the date for the semi-final showdown against the Odisha Juggernauts.
In a nail-biting semi-final, the Giants emerged victorious, avenging their previous season’s defeat. This victory paved the way for their first UKKL final against the top-seeded Chennai Quick Guns.
The win paved the way for the Giants' first final in Ultimate Kho Kho. Captain Akshay Bhangre and his side had another behemoth to face, this time in the form of the 2023-24 Ultimate Kho Kho season table toppers Chennai Quick Guns. This was the chance for Bhangre to help his side etch their name in history.
The finals started with Bhangre leading his team from the backline to claim four consecutive wins. The game however was not always in favour of Giants as the Quicks Guns did not waste any of their chances as well.
However, Bhangre’s resilience and tactical acumen led the Giants to a thrilling victory, crowning them champions of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2.
We cannot wait to see him back in the squad leading the team out onto the field for Season 3 of Ultimate Kho Kho!
