Rishank Devadiga wary of Iran challenge at 2018 Asian Games
PKL
Indian Raider Rishank Devadiga has claimed that Iran will pose as the biggest threat to the Indian Kabaddi team in the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. Having said that, Devadiga also asserted that the Indian team is confident of a good showing and securing the gold medal at the Asian Games.
After a couple of decent years with U-Mumba in the PKL, Rishank Devadiga had a breakthrough year in the last edition with UP Yoddha. The raider finished the year with a total of 170 points in 21 games. But it was the Super Raids department that he excelled in, finishing second only to Pardeep
While India won the final, against Iran, without really breaking a sweat, Devadiga has made sure that the team does not rest and claimed that Iran will be a different proposition in the Asian Games.
"In the Asian Games, all teams come well prepared. You can’t judge the teams on the basis of their performance in the Dubai Masters, because Iran had sent their junior players, but the main team will represent them in the Asian Games,” Devadiga said, reported PTI.
“The teams from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are good. Even the South Korean team is good. These teams can give us a good competition in the Asian Games. They will come to the Games after doing their analysis. I cannot say, but Iran team can give a good competition to India,” he added.
Iran has seen a bit of a Kabaddi revolution in the past and almost defeated India in the final of the World Cup two years ago. They completely outplayed India in the first half and the Men in Blue had been bailed out by a superhuman Ajay Thakur in the second half to seal the win. While India beat the Iranians in the Dubai, the latter had decided to leave behind stars like Fazel Atrachali, Abozar Mohajer Mighani, and Abolfazl Maghsoudlou for the tournament.
“Iran
“They (Iran) have presently adapted to this technique and made changes (in their style of play). Their players also play in the Pro Kabaddi League. This time their team will be good and it will be a good competition for India and even we are ready for it.”
However, Devadiga said that India
“In our minds, the thing is to play well and win matches. We are going to the Asian Games and we should go with the thinking that we will bag the gold. So the Indian team has gone with this very mindset and in the future also we will play likewise.
“The preparation is going good because we had the fitness camp twice. We went to Dubai for the Dubai Masters and all the players are fit and in form. This is an advantage for us. Maybe our camp for the Asian Games will start next week and the focus will be on these upcoming Games,” he concluded.
