Jaipur Pink Panthers coach Narender Redhu upbeat ahead of PKL 2025 season
Jaipur Pink Panthers Head Coach Narender Redhu said the team’s training camp in Dehradun prepared players physically and mentally for PKL 2025. He highlighted breakout stars, emphasized coaching focus, and praised PKL’s role in popularizing kabaddi nationwide.
Hyderabad: Jaipur Pink Panthers Head Coach Narender Redhu saif they had set up our training camp in Dehradun.
“The focus has been on overall fitness, endurance, speed, and strength, along with skill-based sessions on the mat. The boys have worked hard and are now in the competition phase, ready to play,” Narender said in the Media Day show on JioHotstar.
“They’ve prepared well both physically and mentally. In PKL, every team prepares strongly; they study each other’s strategies through video sessions, and this season will be no different,” he said.
*On breakout players for the season:* “Uday Parthe is looking in good touch, and so is Nitin Kumar Dhankar. I trusted Nitin to step up as the lead raider, and he has proven that in practice and matches,” Narender said.
” Then there’s Ali Samadi from Iran, who has also impressed. Fans will definitely see some new faces making an impact this season, and I believe our combination will be strong,” he said.
On whether PKL’s growing stature adds pressure on coaches:, Narender said he wouldn’t call it pressure. “A coach is always fully involved with the team, reading situations, guiding defense and offense, and ensuring players stay focused. The idea is to make sure youngsters don’t feel any pressure and can play their natural game. That’s why coaches stay engaged throughout the camp and help translate training into performance in the league,” he explained.
“PKL has given players an identity. Earlier, kabaddi was limited to villages. Now, players get recognition, fame, and financial stability. When a PKL player walks anywhere, people know his name; that’s a proud feeling for both, players and coaches,” Narender said.
” Every youngster now dreams of being like Arjun Deshwal, Pawan Sehrawat, or Nitin Dhankar. From the mitti to the mat, kabaddi has grown tremendously because of PKL. It has made heroes out of players and taken the sport to every household. The excitement is such that even the elders in villages are waiting eagerly for the league to begin on the 29th of August,” he concluded.
