PKL Final 2024 : Confidence, attitude and sports science- Story behind Haryana Steelers' impeccable title win

PKL Final 2024: Haryana Steelers' camp erupted in joy on Sunday (29th December 2024) at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, after they secured a remarkable 32-23 victory over Patna Pirates in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 Final.

Shivam Patare maintained his stellar attacking form, supported by Vinay, who contributed 9 and 6 points, respectively, helping the JSW Sports-owned team keep their lead. Meanwhile, Mohammadreza Shadloui's exceptional defense shut down Patna's strong attacking unit, with the Iranian making five successful tackles to thwart their progress.

This victory marked Haryana's maiden title in the Pro Kabaddi League. It was the culmination of meticulous scouting by the JSW Sports management, who focused on nurturing young talent and investing in local players. The decision to bring in Shadloui, who was part of last year's title-winning Puneri Paltan side, turned out to be a masterstroke. His all-around skills and leadership boosted Haryana's defense, bringing both confidence and determination to the team.

Skipper Jaideep provided insight into the team's approach heading into the final, stating, "We already had played Patna twice before and we spent a lot of time analysing the videos and understanding their game. We prepared our plans accordingly and stuck to our plans. We told the coach that we will not be making any mistakes."

Reflecting on Patna's raider Devank's comments about "turning the page" against Haryana, Jaideep said, "They wanted to turn the page. We wanted to tear the book up. That was our message to the team. We were fully confident we would win. We lifted the trophy in style because we wanted to have fun and enjoy this moment."

The victory was especially significant for Haryana's Head Coach Manpreet Singh, who had guided the team to the final the previous year but had missed out on the title. After the win, Manpreet shared, "We feel great. We put in a bit of effort last year. We converted our silver medal to Gold medal. This was a great journey. I had a great time teaching the young players. When there is raw material, you can mould it any side you want to. It was great to see young players do what they were taught and they converted the hard work and helped us win the trophy."

The team's commitment to sports science, combined with the training facilities at JSW Sports' Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), played a crucial role in keeping the players in top physical condition throughout the season. Haryana Steelers CEO and JSW Sports COO Divyanshu Singh provided an overview of the preparations that led the team to the final and ultimately to victory.

"This is a long time coming. It has been a lot of hard work - from missing out in the playoffs to improving our efforts in scouting, bringing our coach Manpreet Singh and focusing on implementing sports science through Inspire Institute of Sports and ensuring that we look for the right youngsters to improve our team composition. Last year we made a lot of great strides with the team reaching the final and being so close to the trophy. This year it was all about bridging those gaps, and making those small differences so that we can go all the way," he said.

"While the league is three months, the work cannot be confined to 4-5 months. The players who were retained, we ensured we are working with them throughout the year at IIS. We are in the process of setting up our academy in Haryana as well. Those things make a big difference," he added.

The dominance and attitude of the Steelers throughout the season were noteworthy, with their performances sparking widespread conversation. The Steelers were the first team to secure a playoff spot and finished at the top of the league stage. Along with Shadloui, who topped the defender's standings with 82 tackle points, Vinay also made a significant impact, collecting 48 points in do-or-die raids, the highest by any player. In total, Haryana achieved 260 successful tackles, recording 290 team tackle points-the most by any team in the season.

Looking ahead, Shadloui expressed his happiness with the team and his ambition to continue winning. "Haryana Steelers was a great team for me. Everything from the management, the players and the support staff was remarkable. And finally - we won the trophy. I am happy and I speak from the heart. I hope the next year, we, at Haryana Steelers, can win trophy again," he said.

Divyanshu further acknowledged the contributions of Coach Manpreet and Captain Jaideep, highlighting their growth over the years. "Our coach is a great tactician. He has evolved so much in his ability to handle students and understanding that different athletes have different keys to get the best out of them. We have really seen that change. Jaideep is one of the youngest captains and the way he plays selflessly and everyone has a voice, and that shows in his performances," he concluded.