Pro Kabaddi: Injuries cripple Puneri Paltan ahead of home leg
Puneri Paltan go into the home leg bottom of the pile and have lost eight out of their ten games this season. A lot will be expected from the Paltan with the home support behind them when they take to the field at the Balewadi Sports Complex.
But, Puneri Paltan’s preparations for the home leg have been hugely hampered by a long injury list which includes the pick of the players from the Puneri Paltan side. Wazir Singh’s struggle with injuries has continued this season and the raider is doubtful for Pune’s clash with Dabang Delhi on Sunday.
But, team manager expects him to line-up against Dabang Delhi on Sunday, knowing his fighting spirit. “Wazir has a problem and its not looking too nice. But he is a warrior and with a day’s rest I expect him to line-up against Delhi tomorrow,” said Kailash Kandpal, the team manager of the Puneri Paltan.
But the biggest blow for the fans is the absence of local hero Pravin Niwale from the home leg thanks to an injury. Kailash Kandpal touted Pravin as a major doubt for home leg. “Pravin‘s injury is bad and I doubt that he will be able to take part in the next four games,” confirmed Kailash Kandpal ahead of the games in Pune.
“We are struggling to field 10 players”
Yogesh Hudda’s return has offered some respite for the Paltan in the raiding department but he himself is yet to completely recover from a knee problem, which kept him out for some parts of the game against Bengal Warriors.
So the loss of Pravin Niwale and Wazir Singh will be enormous for the Puneri Paltan, not just because of the skill sets they have but also due to a lack of leadership on field. Surinder Singh too who was beginning to perform well for the Paltan is suffering from a viral fever which will keep him out for the time being.
“We are struggling to field ten players in recent games. Tomorrow we will have a meeting and decide regarding the players who will start for us”, said Kailash Kandpal.
It will be a real shame if the Pune crowd doesn’t get to experience the likes of Pravin Niwale and Wazir Singh in action during the Pune Leg. But the fans will be hoping for a miraculous recovery which will see their skipper and local lad Pranin Niwale somehow make it in time for the matches.