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The Gujarat Giants, led by captain Neeraj Kumar and coached by Ram Mehar Singh, are determined to turn their fortunes around in the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11. After a promising start with a victory over the Bengaluru Bulls, the Giants suffered a narrow defeat to U Mumba.Coach Ram Mehar Singh acknowledged the team's defensive lapses, stating, "Our defence has made a few mistakes here and there in the last game, which has affected the result. But we are confident that our raiding department, and even our defence, is quite strong."Singh emphasized the importance of teamwork and minimizing errors, saying, "All the teams in PKL Season 11 are very good. It is about winning the key moments and working hard on the mat, and avoiding mistakes. All the teams are equal and it is about the team getting set properly on the day, during the game and working together in defence and raiding."Captain Neeraj Kumar echoed his coach's sentiments, highlighting the need for a cohesive unit. "For a team to win, it is absolutely essential that our attackers and defenders have to work well," he said.The Giants will face a tough test on Monday, October 28, when they take on the Dabang Delhi K.C. side. The Haryana Steelers, who lost their opening game but bounced back with a win, will also be in action against Dabang Delhi K.C.In the second game of the day, the Telugu Titans, led by star raider Pawan Sehrawat, will face the Patna Pirates. The Titans have struggled for consistency, while the Pirates have shown promise with young Devank emerging as a key performer.

Kabaddi, a sport deeply ingrained in Indian culture, took center stage on Independence Day as Pro Kabaddi League stars Pardeep Narwal and Maninder Singh graced the Mumbai Public School for a special flag hoisting ceremony.The event, supported by Disney Star in collaboration with Yuva Unstoppable, celebrated the nation's independence and the enduring legacy of kabaddi. After the ceremony, Narwal and Singh, renowned for their exceptional skills, engaged in a lively kabaddi session with the school's team."Kabaddi is an integral part of India's heritage," said Narwal. "It's heartening to witness the enthusiasm for the sport among the youth. Today's ceremony has been a memorable experience."Singh echoed Narwal's sentiments, emphasizing the widespread appeal of kabaddi. "Every corner of our country resonates with the passion for kabaddi," he said. "The support we receive from fans fuels our motivation."The Pro Kabaddi League, a testament to the sport's popularity, will hold its Season 11 Player Auction on August 15 and 16 in Mumbai. The event will feature India's top kabaddi players vying for contracts with various teams.Disney Star, through its CSR initiative, The School Transformation Program, has been instrumental in transforming government schools across India. The program aims to enhance educational opportunities for students through interventions such as STEM labs, digital classrooms, and sports facilities.The Mumbai Public School, one of the beneficiaries of the program, received gifts and a token of appreciation from the Pro Kabaddi League. The event concluded with a cultural program organized by the school.

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is gearing up for its 11th season, with the auction set to take place on August 15 and 16. Ahead of the auction, franchises have retained a total of 88 players, including key stars like Asian Games gold medallists Pawan Sehrawat and Pardeep Narwal.The retained players include a core group of experienced and talented individuals. Dabang Delhi K.C. has retained the raider duo of Ashu Malik and Naveen Kumar, while Puneri Paltan has held on to season 10's most valuable player award winner Aslam Inamdar. Jaipur Pink Panthers have retained their star raider Arjun Deshwal.The non-retained players include Maninder Singh, Fazel Atrachali, and Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh. These players will be available for selection in the auction.For the auction, the domestic and overseas players will be divided into four categories: A, B, C, and D. The players will be further sub-divided as 'All-Rounders', 'Defenders', and 'Raiders' within each category.The base prices for each of the categories are:* Category A: Rs 30 Lakh* Category B: Rs 20 Lakh* Category C: Rs 13 Lakh* Category D: Rs 9 LakhThe player pool will consist of 500 players. The total salary purse available to each franchise for its squad is Rs 5 crore.The auction is expected to be highly competitive, with franchises looking to build stronger units for the upcoming season. The availability of star players like Sehrawat and Narwal will add further excitement to the proceedings.

Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 Player Auction Set for August 15-16As the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) gears up for its 10th anniversary on July 26, Mashal Sports has announced the PKL Season 11 Player Auction, scheduled for August 15 and 16 in Mumbai. The league's journey began a decade ago with a thrilling match between U Mumba and the Jaipur Pink Panthers in Mumbai.After successfully concluding its tenth season from December 2, 2023 to March 1, 2024, the PKL has become the second sporting league in India to complete 10 seasons. Ahead of Season 11, Mashal Sports has unveiled a new logo featuring the colors of saffron and green, similar to the Indian tri-color, symbolizing kabaddi as the country's proud sport.Anupam Goswami, League Commissioner of the PKL, expressed his delight at announcing the player auction for Season XI on August 15. He emphasized the importance of kabaddi as India's unique and popular sport for centuries, showcased as a world-class competitive discipline at the PKL."This is a great achievement for all the stakeholders of Pro Kabaddi as well as the Kabaddi ecosystem of the country under the custodianship of AKFI," Goswami said. "We will strongly celebrate this achievement with patriotic fervor at the Season XI Player Auction."The PKL has played a pivotal role in popularizing kabaddi in India and around the world. The league has attracted top players from across the country and has helped to develop young talent. The upcoming player auction is expected to be highly competitive, with teams looking to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season.

Tamil Thalaivas, a formidable team in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), has made a groundbreaking move by appointing Udaya Kumar as Chief Coach and Dharmaraj Cheralathan as Strategy Coach for the upcoming Season 11. This innovative dual-coach system marks a departure from the traditional head coach and assistant coach model, signaling a shift towards a collaborative approach to team management.Udaya Kumar, a legendary figure in kabaddi, brings an unparalleled wealth of experience to the Thalaivas. As the former coach of the Indian kabaddi team, he has guided them to multiple Asian Games gold medals, showcasing his exceptional player development skills. His focus will be on nurturing young talent and enhancing the team's overall skill set."We are committed to providing opportunities to new, young, and talented players," said Kumar. "By implementing a cohesive team dynamic, we aim to secure a remarkable victory."Dharmaraj Cheralathan, a former Pro Kabaddi player, joins the Thalaivas with a reputation for strategic brilliance and on-field prowess. As a key player in Patna Pirates' Season 4 PKL triumph, he has also excelled on the international stage, winning the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup and securing gold medals in the 2017 South Asian Games and the Asian Beach Games.Cheralathan's expertise will be invaluable in developing match strategies and making in-game decisions for the Thalaivas. "We have a profound obligation to the sport," he said. "I am confident that we will make a strong comeback this year."The combination of Kumar's skill development expertise and Cheralathan's strategic insights is expected to be a game-changer for the Thalaivas. Their immense experience and dedication will guide the team towards their ultimate goal: the PKL Season 11 title."The idea of onboarding coaches with diverse roles is to focus on the franchise's long-term vision of nurturing and developing young talent," said Shushen Vashishth, CEO of Tamil Thalaivas. "Cheralathan's experience as an ex-PKL player brings a fresh ideology to the team."With their new coaching duo at the helm, the Tamil Thalaivas are poised to deliver exceptional performances and make a significant impact in the upcoming season.

Puneri Paltan's triumph in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 final marked a historic moment for the Pune-based team. After a heartbreaking loss in last season's final, Paltan emerged victorious this time, defeating Haryana Steelers 28-25 in a nail-biting encounter at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on March 1.The low-scoring match was a testament to the defensive prowess of both teams. However, Paltan's raider Pankaj Mohite proved to be the game-changer, scoring a crucial nine points and leading his team's offensive charge.The first half was a close contest, with Paltan maintaining a narrow lead. A crucial four-point raid by Mohite near half-time pushed the Steelers on the brink of an all-out, but substitute raider Vishal Tate kept them in the game with a crucial touch.The second half continued to be a tense affair, with Paltan eventually pulling away for an eight-point lead in the final two minutes. Strong defensive play by Gaurav Khatri, who secured four tackle points, helped Paltan slow down the game and secure its historic victory.On the other hand, it was a disappointing night for the Steelers, who struggled defensively, only managing six tackle points throughout the match. This was the third final defeat for Steelers' coach Manpreet Singh, who has previously failed to cross the final hurdle with Gujarat Giants.This win continues the recent trend in PKL, where the team finishing atop the league stage emerges as the ultimate champion. Paltan captain Aslam Inamdar was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season for his impressive performance, which included 142 raid points and 26 tackle points. Its vice-captain Mohammadreza Chiyaneh won the Best Defender award for 99 tackle points, while Dabang Delhi's Ashu Malik bagged the Best Raider trophy for 276 raid points.