Bathinda: Former international kabaddi player Gurjit Singh Toot died on Wednesday at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College Hospital in Faridkot following a battle with kidney disease. He was 45.Standing six feet, three inches tall, Gurjit of Toot village in Punjab’s Ferozepur district was recognised for his agility, strength and versatile play as both a raider and defender in international circle kabaddi.Toot was a dominant figure in the regional kabaddi circuit between 2005 and 2010. His career peak came in 2007 when he was named best raider at the Canada Cup in Toronto.However, a foot and leg injury sustained in 2010 derailed his career, leading to a decline in his athletic performance and financial difficulties during the 2011 season, according to kabaddi commentator Satpal Singh from Khadial village in Sangrur.According to his fans, the injury contributed to a battle with drug addiction, which Toot publicly acknowledged in interviews and recent podcast appearances. The addiction subsequently caused severe renal failure.Tributes from across the kabaddi community followed the news of his death.“Toot was a promising player who made it big in the game. A foot and leg injury snatched a big player from fans,” said Sikandar Singh Maluka, former president of the Punjab Kabaddi Association.Toot’s influence extended into popular culture, earning a reference in the song, ‘Ilzaam’, by Punjabi singer Arjan Dhillon.
