PKL 2019 | My journey from being a player to head coach

My Kabaddi journey began during my school days when my sports teacher in school introduced me to this sport. It was my good height and agility that led him to asking me if I was interested in playing Kabaddi. From there on, my interest level spiked and I started playing regularly in my village. During those days Kabaddi was not very popular and it was majorly restricted to rural areas.

Your age plays a large part in how you perform on the mat. After the first couple of seasons, my performance had been on a decline. Towards the end, I could not attend pre-season camps, or train as much as I used to. Constant niggles too marred my performances. I could have extended my career by a couple of years. However, my body did not support that decision and it was best that I called it a day.

After playing so many games for the country and in Vivo PKL, I felt that this was the right time to hang up my boots from all formats of kabaddi. However, Kabaddi has been an inseparable part of my life. I cannot imagine living a life away from the mat. I had been thinking about taking up the role of a coach, for several days after announcing my retirement. When I was approached by Puneri Paltan’s management, I saw an opportunity and grabbed it immediately. I felt that now it’s my turn to give it back to this sport which has given me so much love and respect. I am really excited to continue being a part of the action and returning to Vivo PKL, but as a head coach of a team. As an individual, I have always believed in taking up new challenges and I am thrilled to be a part of Puneri Paltan.

As a player, I was always under the spotlight, so now working on the side-lines quietly is an experience I am looking forward to. My experience as a player helps me a lot in devising strategies for my team. I’ve had a comprehensive experience of the League-format as well, which does make it quite easier for me. However, the pressure is still the same. In fact, the stakes are much higher as a coach. As a player, it was just about my performance, but now, it is all about my team and the way I guide them.

Until now, in the short coaching career that I have had, I’ve realized that you need to give time to every individual player as well as the entire team and make sure that collectively as a team they perform better. In coaching, you also need a lot of patience because you cannot win every single game and after each defeat it’s your responsibility to motivate your team. I feel you need to be extremely passionate and be ready for hard work when you think of taking up coaching. To ignite the passion within the players of the team, the coach must be equally passionate as well.

As the head coach for Puneri Paltan, I would only want the best for my squad. Our team has some of the finest players in Kabaddi and I have full faith in my players. Just like I want to be the best at everything I take up, I want my team also to be the best side of this season. This season as head coach it is my utmost priority to make Puneri Paltan shine and help them clinch the title.