CHENNAI: India’s all-time batting great Sachin Tendulkar who has played many electrifying innings in his career, with the crowds rooting for him, chose to support the game of kabaddi for he was moved by the enthusiasm and the support of people when he saw Pro Kabaddi League 3 at Mumbai. His association with the game started by then. Sachin who is also the co-owner of Tamil Thalaivas lauded the Chennai public for their knowledge and sporting culture.
Although his team did not reach the final, true to his words, the Pro Kabaddi League 5 final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium was a grand affair, with the audience cheering for the teams’ good show.
Patna Pirates played the bigger points better and thus won the PKL 2017 55-38 to defeat Gujarat Fortune Giants and complete a hat-trick of victories.
The captain of Patna side, Pardeep Narwal, was the game changer. He was supremely confident of his abilities and guided his team to an incredible win. His coach Ram Mehar Singh and assistant coach MV Sundaram attributed the team’s success to Pardeep’s ability to maintain calmness when the chips were down. “Pardeep’s ability to raid and the confidence he instils in the team is unbelievable,’’ said coach Ram.
MV Sundaram, the assistant coach of the Patna team, who hails from Tamil Nadu and is the chief coach of the Army and Services kabaddi team, attributed the win to teamwork.
“We were always confident that we will retain the title. We prepared well and did not worry about the law of averages. Our chief coach Ram’s guidance and Pardeep’s consistency and good work by the likes of Vijay, Monu helped us win the tournament.” The beginning of the match saw a see-saw battle. Sukesh Hegde of Gujarat gave them the lead 9-3 through all-out.
This was neutralised by Pardeep in identical fashion and the scores were level 15-15. The defending champions were leading 21-18 at half-time. “Pardeep’s effort (all out) to level the scores at 15 all was the turning point. It brought us back into the game. Had we not levelled before time and conceded too many points we would have found it difficult. But we tightened the game and maintained the lead. We played the bigger points better than Gujarat,’’ said Sundaram.
On the other hand, Pardeep was delighted and insisted that self-confidence was the key for the victory. “I am happy that we could win thrice in a row. We were always confident that we could retain the title. I guess things worked in the place and we played the bigger points better,” said Pardeep.
ashok.v@newindianexpress.com