Pro Kabaddi: 5 coaches who have played for PKL teams in the past
The Pro Kabaddi League has been a platform for Kabaddi stars to display their skills and earn notable recognition through their talent. The tournament has unearthed some world-class kabaddi players right from commencement of the league back in 2014.
This lucrative tournament has transitioned kabaddi into a global level, turning to be India's second most watched franchise-based league after the Indian Premier League (IPL). PKL has also produced some prominent coaches who have guided teams to title victories, and have brought the best out of potential players on the mat.
The franchises sign the best veterans for the job to ensure that they will attain positive results by the end of the tournament. It shows how the coaches play a pivotal role for the teams in the Pro Kabaddi League.
Some coaches have also played as players and have then gone on to guide teams in the PKL. Let's take a look at five such notable names.
#5 Gurpreet Singh
Gurpreet Singh may not be remembered as a player in Pro Kabaddi, but he did represent the Bengaluru Bulls and Puneri Paltan in the first few seasons of the league. Gurpreet served as a right corner defender, known for his timely blocks and waist pulls that earned him the nickname of 'The Wall.' He scored 24 tackle points in his debut season for the Bengaluru Bulls.
Gurpreet has also represented the Indian Kabaddi team at the national and international levels, and was also a part of the gold-medal winning side at the 2010 and the 2014 Asian Games. Hailing from Punjab, Gurpreet has represented the Punjab Police Kabaddi team and has also played in the Nationals.
He was drafted in as the assistant coach of the Puneri Paltan in PKL 7. Although the team couldn't make it to the playoffs, Gurpreet had a vital role in uplifting the rock-solid defense of Puneri Paltan, which was their strength in Season 7.