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Kabaddi event of the 13th South Asian Games 2019 is set to commence from 4th December 2019 and will conclude on 9th December 2019. AKFI announced its 12-member Indian men's team for the event, as Deepak Niwas Hooda will be leading the side as the captain.
The management has selected a balanced squad this year with a perfect mix of experienced campaigners and young talents. The top three raiders of Pro Kabaddi 2019 - Pawan Sehrawat, Naveen Kumar, and Pardeep Narwal will be playing together for their national side. Vikash Khandola and Darshan Kadian will also be the opportunistic raiders to watch out in the tournament.
The likes of Nitesh Kumar, Vishal Bhardwaj, and Amit Hooda will take the defensive charge, along with Surender Nada, who will be returning after a long tenure. Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal will be serving as the cover defenders for a newly revamped Indian squad.
India will play its first match in the morning session on 5th December against Sri Lanka, followed by Pakistan (6th December), Bangladesh (7th December), and the hosts Nepal (8th December). As we close in towards the commencement of the tournament, let's take a look at the probable playing seven for the Indian Kabaddi team at the South Asian Games.
Corner defenders: Nitesh Kumar (right) & Surender Nada (left)
Nitesh Kumar has emerged into one of the finest right corner defenders in the Kabaddi world today. He has been in sublime form, with his arsenal moves like the ankle hold and diving thigh holds and can be vital in a well-settled defence.
Surender Nada remains an experienced campaigner in India's squad this year. The ankle-hold specialist will return after almost a year in the Kabaddi scene. His leadership in the defence could come handy along with his ability to remain composed and not give advance attempts.
The newly formed corner duo of Nitesh-Surender could work well for the Indian side, as both defenders are flexible in forming a partnership with the other defenders. With the perfect mix of youth and experience, this corner duo can be a long-term defensive unit for India and will play a vital role in India's hope for its 10th gold medal.
Cover defenders: Sunil Kumar (right) & Parvesh Bhainswal (left)
The duo of Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal is one of the most reputed cover defensive pair in the Kabaddi scene today. They have been remarkable with their lethal combination tackle, comprising of Sunil's lower body pull with Parvesh's upper body takedown. It has silenced many big-match raiders, which they have found difficult to face the bedrock defensive skills.
Having grown up playing together, Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal have earned glory together in the Pro Kabaddi League. They have a mutual understanding among each other, with one able to comprehend the other's move and execute them with timing. They took Gujarat Fortune Giants to two straight finals in Season 5 and 6 and also won the Senior Nationals representing Indian Railways this year.
Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal could help India build a formidable defence with the ability to provide decent support to the corners. They could help India in their first stint in Indian colours, as a perfect replacement to the legendary Manjeet Chhillar-Surjeet Singh duo.
Raiders: Deepak Niwas Hooda, Pawan Sehrawat & Pardeep Narwal
The newly appointed captain of the Indian Kabaddi Team Deepak Niwas Hooda is the most experienced campaigner heading into the event this year. He has represented India since the 2016 edition and will focus upon leading the team to their 10th gold medal at the South Asian Games.
It will be the first outing for Pawan Sehrawat in the Indian jersey, as the 'Hi-Flyer' has all it takes to be India's next frontline raider. Pawan's ability to perform under pressure makes him a lethal player to watch out. The vice-captain of the Indian team could be a match-winner for India at the 13th South Asian Games, with him taking out opposition's defence with his raiding skills.
Known as the 'Record-breaker' in Pro Kabaddi, Pardeep Narwal has scored raid points consistently in the PKL. He will be the go-to man for India in the crucial raids and could form a raiding pair with Pawan Sehrawat to wipe out the opposition's defence. Pardeep's ability to stage comebacks and grow a massive lead will strengthen India's raiding department.
All in all, the Indian Kabaddi team looks perfectly balanced with the right mix of youth and experience. They look favourites to clinch the gold medal at the South Asian Games yet again.
