Interview with Sandeep Narwal: "The name Narwal means nothing"
Narwal is a name that has become synonymous with top class Kabaddi. The Narwals from Sonepat have finally found fame, all thanks to their exploits in the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League. When you see a Narwal on the team sheet for any team in Pro Kabaddi, you could be excused for expecting fireworks.
The Narwals have always ruled the roost is Pro Kabaddi League’s previous editions, and the latest ones to have announced themselves to the world are Patna Pirates’ Pardeep Narwal and Sandeep Narwal, the latter having grown into prominence during the course of the first two seasons of the league.
Pardeep Narwal has truly been a find of this league as the nineteen-year-old-raider who often warmed the bench for the Bengaluru Bulls last season was the first one to cross the 100 raid point mark in the league when he picked up a staggering 24 raid points against the Telugu Titans last week.
Speaking to Sportskeeda after the loss to the Telugu Titans, Sandeep Narwal along with his headline-making namesake Pardeep shared his views on the what it means being a Narwal, talking up his skipper Manpreet Singh, before looking ahead to the semi-finals.
“Being named Narwal or being from Sonepat means nothing,” Sandeep Narwal made a staggering statement after being asked about the reason behind the success of the Narwals in Kabaddi. “A player’s success depends on his hard work and dedication towards the game and then his name doesn’t matter. In Sonepat, we have many kabaddi players, some of which represent the country in various tournaments, but being a Narwal or being born in Sonepat guarantees nothing,” stated Sandeep Narwal.
Reflecting on the league stages, Sandeep had words of praise for his skipper Manpreet Singh, who according to him had always controlled his side brilliantly. “Manpreet is a great leader. He may not be the same player he was during his prime, but the way he controls the team on the pitch makes all the difference,” Sandeep Narwal told Sportskeeda.
Sandeep went on to divulge how his captain Manpreet Singh lost 47 kgs in the six months leading to the tournament to be eligible and fit for the tournament. “Manpreet lost 47 kilograms to be able to play this tournament. He is an inspiration for everyone in the team and we treat him as our elder brother,” disclosed Narwal.
Manpreet Singh will be key for the Patna Pirates against the Puneri Paltan, the only side whom the Pirates haven’t beaten this season. But a bullish Sandeep Narwal told that previous results meant nothing for him and his Pirates side. “What happened in the past is irrelevant. We have great confidence in our abilities and we have shown what we are capable of this season. So we go into the semi-final with no fear at all,” Sandeep Narwal declared, almost challenging the opponents to have shy at stopping him and the Patna Pirates.