Currently owned by Insurekot Sports Limited, the Pune-based PKL franchise Puneri Paltan has had a terrific 2016 Pro Kabaddi League campaign after a couple of back-to-back disappointing seasons. The PKL franchise who plays its home matches at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune finished at the bottom of the league table in the first two seasons of the domestic Indian Kabaddi tournament. However, the Pune-based franchise turned the tides in the 2016 Pro Kabaddi League to finish 3rd after beating the Bengal Warriors (31-27) in the 3rd-4th place play-off encounter.
The Puneri Paltan finished a couple of places below the table toppers, U Mumba to secure a respectable 3rd position in the 2016 Pro Kabaddi League table, having won seven of their 14 group stage matches. Led by Manjeet Chillar and coached by Ashok Shinde, Puneri Paltan finished a place above the Bengal Warriors whom they eventually beat to end their 2016 campaign on a high.
Going into today’s Pro Kabaddi League auction, the Puneri Paltan has retained two of their star performers, namely, Manjeet Chillar and Deepak Niwas Hooda. However, the fact that the Paltan decided not to retain its explosive raider, Ajay Thakur might come back to hurt them later.
Puneri Paltan bolstered their squad by adding Nitin Tomar and Sgt Ravinder Kumar in the recently concluded Services Players’ draft process, aligned with the Services Sports Controlled Board (SSCB) and the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI).
Key Transfers
1. Sonu Narwal : The Puneri Paltan franchise will be quite pleased to ensure the services of former Jaipur Pink Panther raider Sonu Narwal for the upcoming edition of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League.
2. Ravinder Pahal: The former Dabang Delhi defender Ravinder Pahal would be an excellent addition to the Puneri Paltan roster for the upcoming edition of the Pro Kabaddi League.
Here is the full list of players that have been bought by the Puneri Paltan at the end of 2016 Pro Kabaddi League auction:
| Players | Position |
| I Ketut Ariana | Defender |
| Gurpreet Singh | Defender |
| Somvir Shekhar | Defender |
| Ravinder Pahal | Defender |
| Joginder Narwal | Defender |
| Khomsan Thongkham | Defender |
| Parmod Narwal | All Rounder |
| Preetam Chhillar | All Rounder |
| Ajay Thakur | Raider |
| Sonu Narwal | Raider |
| Jay Bahadur Bohara | Raider |
| Anil Shriram Nimbolkar | Raider |
| Nitin Tomar | Raider |
| Sgt Ravinder Kumar | Defender |
Now, let’s take a look at Puneri Paltan’s Twitter handle at the end of today’s auction:
