BENGALURU: Surjeet Narwal, the new skipper of the Bengaluru Bulls team in the Pro Kabaddi League, is all set for the third season of the sport.
The top raider for the team is a vastly experienced player. Surjeet was an integral part of the Indian team which won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Busan. Nicknamed ‘The Flying Machine’ due to his popular jumps during raids, Surjeet had a very successful stint in PKL Season 1. His key strengths are his power, quick reflexes and a cool mind, qualities which have made him one of the most sought-after players.
Surjeet, 26, missed Season 2 due to an injury but is back in form to lead the charge of the Bengaluru Bulls. “There are no favourites this year,” Surjeet told the City Express in a chat with a lot of confidence. “I am confident that my team will surely make the final this season.” Hailing from Sonepat, a village in Haryana which has produced the most medalists in kabaddi at the Asian level, Surjeet Narwal didn’t have to look too far for inspiration. He took up the sport at an early age and excelled at it form the very beginning.
“We have trained well. Our team has the right balance in attack and defence. The fact that we have some very talented young players is a big advantage, and I am sure we will go all the way,” Surjeet said. “Others are also in the fray but no team has an overflow or better players that others don’t have.”
In kabaddi, anything can happen at any time, he believes. “So while not being overconfident, I think, if we take one game at a time and not look too far, we will be able to go all the way,” he added. “The sport has picked up immensely and there is a lot of following. That is very good for the sport and the players.”
On the most important contribution of PKL to the sport, Surjeet said ‘international exposure’. “Before PKL began, kabaddi was largely an Indian sub-continent sport. But now more nations are taking to it, and in the coming years, it will become a truly international sport,” he added.
“We have some very good South Korean players. Some Malaysian and even Poland players have come to notice. These players are good, and it is a matter of time before they improve further,” he said.
When he’s not playing kabaddi, Surjeet likes to spend quality time with his family and works out at the gym to keep himself ready for ‘raids’.
No wonder the Bulls are expected to be on the rampage from Saturday, when Season 3 gets going.
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