Bharat Hooda says Telugu Titans focused on learning from mistakes, chasing maiden PKL title

Telugu Titans all-rounder Bharat Hooda says the team is determined to overcome past mistakes and handle pressure better as they chase their maiden Pro Kabaddi League title. The Titans are currently placed third in the points table this season.

Hyderabad: Telugu Titans, desperately chasing its maiden title in the Pro Kabaddi League, has an immensely satisfying campaign this season being third in the points table so far.

And, one of the key players in the Titans’ line-up Bharat Hooda, who hails from a relatively obscure Kiloi in Rohtak district (Haryana), shares his views on the team’s progress in a chat with ‘Telangana Today’.

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“During the pre-season, the team got together for a camp where our coaches and seniors helped me identify areas where I could improve. So, my focus was on practicing and improving my skills, especially in those certain areas. As an all-rounder, I want to be able to contribute on both ends of the mat and I’ve worked hard in the pre-season to ensure I can do that for my team,” Bharat said..

“The atmosphere in the team is brilliant and everyone’s enjoying it very much. Although I am a senior, everyone stays together. It’s a great experience to share that responsibility of a senior player with someone like Vijay Malik. The team has gelled together well and there’s a spirit of brotherhood that has been created. Hence, we are all growing together with lots of love,” he said.

“That’s the nature of the game, especially with the introduction of the tiebreaker this season. We haven’t been involved in one this season, but when the game comes down to the wire, you can feel the pressure. We haven’t been able to finish a few close matches on the winning side because of our mistakes. Sometimes it was me making mistakes, other times it was someone else. However, the team has worked on these mistakes. It’s a collective effort at the end of the day, and we will do very well in the coming games,” Bharat said.

“My versatility is my biggest strength, I believe. However, for me, it’s about constantly getting better each day. One of the key areas we are focusing on as a team is to try and handle pressure situations better. We sit with the coaching staff and analyze these moments to try and get better at them. All of us have a common goal – We just want the team to win,” he said

“Hooda sir is a very senior coach. He’s led the India team and has also won a PKL title in Season 8. He’s got a vast amount of experience, so it feels amazing to understand the game from his point of view. If you look back at his coaching career, he also has a reputation for helping young players evolve. He treats everyone equally in the team and helps us work on our shortcomings,” the Titans star players aid.

“Of course, the entire team is enjoying playing under Vijay bhai. He is a cool captain and doesn’t put pressure on us while playing. Even if someone makes a mistake, he’s always there to back us up. He always makes sure the team is in control of the game, and that’s what you want from your leader,” he said.

“We are always ready to entertain the fans because this is our job. We want to enjoy our game while doing so, because if we have fun on the mat, the fans will also be entertained. We played our first game in Chennai and registered a handsome win against Patna Pirates. The crowd support in Chennai is always special. So, we hope that the fans will keep supporting us like they always do,” Bharat signed off.