Manathi Ganesan

P. Ganesan

P. Ganesan receiving the Arjuna Award (1995)
Personal information
Full name	Perumal Ganesan
Nationality	India
Born	Manathi, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India
Years active	Late 1980s–1990s
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Kabaddi
Position	Raider
Medal record Men's kabaddi Representing   India Asian Games 1994 Asian Games Team

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. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life

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". ^[3]

Playing career

Domestic career

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. ^[4]

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.

International career

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. ^[5]

Style of play

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. ^[6]

Awards and honours

• Arjuna Award – 1995 (Kabaddi) ^[7]
• Gold medal – Men's Kabaddi, 1994 Asian Games ^[8]

Later life

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. ^[9]

In popular culture

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. ^{[10] [11]}

References

1. "Arjuna Award Winners – Kabaddi". Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
2. "Asian Games Medalists – Kabaddi, 1994". Olympian Database. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
3. காளமாடன் வருகை... யார் இந்த மணத்தி கணேசன்? [Here comes Kaalamaadan… Who is this Manathi Ganesan?]. Dinamani (in Tamil). 14 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
4. காளமாடன் வருகை... யார் இந்த மணத்தி கணேசன்? [Who is this Manathi Ganesan?]. Dinamani. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
5. "Asian Games Kabaddi 1994 – Hiroshima (Archived)". Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
6. "Is "Bison Kaalamaadan" based on a true story?". NewsIT. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
7. "Arjuna Award Winners – Kabaddi". AKFI. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
8. "Asian Games Kabaddi Results". Olympian Database.
9. "Manathi Ganesan on 'Bison': They have strived for the film like I did on field". Cinema Express. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
10. "Bison: Mari Selvaraj reveals Rajinikanth's reaction". The Times of India. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
11. "'Bison Kaalamaadan' trailer features Dhruv Vikram as Manathi Ganesan". MovieCrow. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.