As a result, each team comprised of some of the best talents across the country in addition to the fledgling talents.
One youngster, who made an impressive mark of sorts in his debut season was 19-year old turbanator, Surender Singh.
A right cover defender who created waves with his authoritative defending in the local circuit, it was Anup Kumar and Shabeer Bapu who identified the youngster’s talent and Surender essayed his role to good effect under the tutelage of the former U Mumba, one of his biggest heroes in the sport.
Yet, Surender, who idolizes Surjeet Singh on the defense front was hungry for more. With 58 points from 22 games, the 19-year old was amongst the points but committed far too many errors, which translated into a tough outcome for his side.
Determined to make amends in the sixth season, Surender claims that he made optimum use of technology back at home and also picked the brains of his coaches in the U Mumba camp ahead of the season in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda.
Hailing from Dehla, a village in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh, Surender recollects the spate of issues that he faced in the lead up to being selected to feature in the Pro Kabaddi League.
Even though Surender was constantly under the pump for looking at pursuing a career in the sport, U Mumba’s ‘paaji’ claims that kabaddi was his first love and did not even think of trying his hand at any other sport.
For a youngster who is only playing his second season in the league, Surender has already made some impressive tackles and smiles as he is quizzed on his inspiration to take up the game.
Yet, behind every successful player is not only an inspiration and a spark to light the flame but also a mentor or a coach, who can not only fine-tune the skills but also bring the best out of the player.
Surender believes that his success and the team’s overall is a well-earned result of Iranian coach Gholamreza Mazandarani’s ‘Iranian’ style of coaching.
One of the best young cover defenders in the competition, the league’s rising standards brings out the inner raider in the defenders and vice-versa. Surender’s case is no different, as he brings out his raiding talent in him.
With 50 tackle points from 18 games, Surender Singh has contributed in vital proportions to U Mumba’s success this season and has formed a formidable combination with Fazel Athrachali, an alliance that has caused a nightmare for the best of raiders in the competition.
Apart from skipper Fazel, Surender’s combination with his cover defence partner Rohit Rana has emerged as one of U Mumba’s stronger suits this season and the 20-year old shed light on the algorithm behind the success.
U Mumba’s stunning run this season has seen them create history as the fastest team to qualify for the playoffs stages in the history of the league, in just 18 matches and being a massive part of this success ride, Surender briefs U Mumba’s aim for the rest of the season.
Only two seasons old in the league, Surender’s famous dashes from the cover position have earned a label as his ’trademark move’, a move that has earned him a spot in the list of the most exciting and prodigious defenders in Pro Kabaddi League history.
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