The high-flying Patna Pirates entered the finals of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 3 after a fine 40-21 win over the Puneri Paltan at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. On the back of a superb six-point super raid from Pardeep Narwal, the Pirates put up a clinical performance and never gave the Pune side even a sniff at victory.
Sandeep Narwal remained rock solid in the Patna defense and scored 5 tackle points as his side kept the dangerous trio of Manjeet Chhillar, Ajay Thakur and Deepak Niwas Hooda away from scoring easy points. Pardeep Narwal scored a Super 10 and paved the way for his side to reach the final for the first time and set up a summit clash with defending champions U Mumba.
Speaking to the media after the game, the Pirates’ skipper Manpreet Singh expressed his delight at his side’s performance on the night and explained how they meticulously prepared for the Pune team and were able to implement the same on the mat. He said that they had a fully-prepared strategy to counter the Paltan’s threats and chose the right combinations to pick up the win.
Only because of backroom staff can we give our best: Manpreet Singh
In a wonderful display of gratitude, Singh gave the credit for his side’s incredible run to the background staff and explained the sacrifices they make so that they players are always ready for the next game. “I can never thank our staff enough – our physio, our trainer and our manager. Their efforts always go unnoticed and it is only because of them that we can give our best every time we play. They sacrifice their sleep to ensure that we are well rested and always prepared for our matches. I wholeheartedly thank them for the role they have played," said the skipper.
Speaking about leading a young side, Singh said that his team is a cohesive unit and that all players listen to him and heed to his advice. He stated, "Most players in our team our youngsters, which gives us a serious advantage. They have better agility, stamina and strength than us seniors and I try my best as a captain to facilitate them to do better and contribute as much as possible.”
He thanked the supporters who came out in large numbers to watch the match and called them to rally behind the team one last time as they face U Mumba in the final. In the end, he added, “U Mumba are a great side. But as long as we play to our strengths and stick to our plan, we should be able to defeat them.”
