By Kaushik Kumar

New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS): Pro Kabaddi League's (PKL) seventh season has almost reached it's halfway stage with each of the 12 teams trying their best possible combination to remain in the top six spots in the points-table. While Dabang Delhi has surprised everyone by maintaining the number one spot, Haryana Steelers, under new and young coach Rakesh Kumar, have also shown why they are a force to reckon with.

The Steelers had a dream debut season as they made it to the play-offs in 2017. However, the success was short lived as the team finished in the bottom of Zone A last season. In 2019, the Steelers, who are at the sixth spot, seem to be in a mood to replicate their 2017 show and defender Parveen has credited coach Rakesh for their progress.

"Rakesh is very different from other coaches as rather than directing us from outside, he trains with us on the mat. Wherever any player commits a mistake, he comes to us and explains where one is going wrong. More than a coach he behaves like an elder brother which is rarely with other coaches," the defender told IANS.

"There are some coaches who get angry on player's mistake but not him. He always deals with us in a calm way."

The defender, who plays as the left cover, was also all praise for his team management. "It is my second season with them and the best part is that the team management deals very nicely with each player. They just ask us to give our best rather than talking much about the wins or defeats. Moreover, our training camp is well equipped with every facility and so, I feel they have taken kabaddi to the next level," opined Parveen.

Speaking about his team's chances this season, he said: "Look, this year seems to be the most toughest of all previous editions as each team is posing major challenges to others. And if we are doing well in this scenario, I believe we would make the semi-finals or even the finals."

Meanwhile, the defender also has a vision for the development and promotion of the sport in every region of the country.

"I think the government should open centres for kabaddi in every city like the SAI (Sports Authority of India) where kids should be given admission who have an interst in the game. In these centres, they (kids) should be provided balanced diet with the necessay facilities so that they get trained at the initial level.

"They should be trained under able coaches, who could teach them how to remain fit and the value of fitness and nutrition in this discipline as being a contact sport, kabaddi players suffer more injuries than others," Parveen concluded.