This year in the PKL auction, Tamil Thalaivas secured the skilled raider Sachin Tanwar for a mammoth price of 2.15 crores, making their raiding department more stable. Everyone’s talking about how his arrival will make the team a formidable force, but in reality, what makes it truly destructive is Narendar’s presence in the team. The 22-year-old raider has contributed significantly to the team over the last two seasons. Having played for India in junior tournaments, this young prodigy has been a vital asset for the team. In the 2022 season, he gathered 249 raid points in 23 matches. In the 2023 season, in just 21 matches, he scored 195 points for the team.
Insidesport exclusively spoke to the raider ahead of the new PKL season to understand his role and the team’s vision for the upcoming season.
He’s excited about the camp which will take place in Kerala in a few days. Narendar started by saying, “It’s quite good. The team struggled a bit in the second season, but this time, we will try to make the team champions.”
I will take the most possible points
On his role, Narendar said, “My role will basically be to play as the team’s raider, taking responsibility to score as many points as possible for the team.”
“I started playing kabaddi in my village, following the senior players. In 2020, I signed with Gandhinagar. I played as a junior in 2021 and 2022. Then, I participated in the Khelo India Youth Games in Haryana in 2022. I also played in international and local tournaments. We are excited to show something new, and Tamil Nadu will showcase a different style now.”
Sachin’s addition is very beneficial for the team
When asked what can be expected from Sachin’s addition to the team, he said, “With the left-right combination, and Sachin delivering top performances for several seasons, this year, we expect to see a strong partnership.”
“Sachin has the most experience in the entire team. We should rely on his experience to guide all the players and deliver good performances,” he added.
The new coaches will change the fate for us – Narendar
Tamil Thalaivas has never won the PKL trophy. This year, the management has appointed experienced PKL and Indian team player Dharmaraj Cheralathan and former India coach Uday Kumar. Narendar seemed optimistic about the appointments. “They are very experienced, and together we will work to improve our game. With their guidance, we will have a better season,” he said.
It feels great
Narendar said that it feels great to be a part of PKL. “Since PKL started, the life of a kabaddi player has become more professional, with better status, money, and recognition. Earlier, kabaddi was mainly for securing a government job, but now players aim to play in Pro Kabaddi,” he said.
“As a kid, I watched Pro Kabaddi and saw how senior players were admired, and people took selfies with them. Now, being recognised in public feels great,” he added.
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