India, Sept. 21 -- Pawan Sehrawat's ability to soar over defenders during raids has earned him the nickname 'Hi-Flyer', a tag the Indian kabaddi star says stems from his remarkable six-foot vertical jumps.

Sehrawat explained the origin of his nickname after helping India begin its Asian Games campaign with a 49-24 win over Japan in a men's Group A match at Tokai near here on Monday.

"They call me the 'Hi-Flyer' because when I raid I can jump very high, about six feet. People saw the way I could fly over the defenders and that is how the name came," he said.

The 29-year-old is one of the biggest names in Indian kabaddi and became the most expensive player in Pro Kabaddi League history when he was bought for Rs 2.6 crore in the 2023 edit...