Teams gear up for Nepal Kabaddi League

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 17: The first edition of the Nepal Kabaddi League is set to kick off on Friday in Kathmandu. The inaugural day will feature a match between the Kathmandu Mavericks and the Pokhara Lakers at the NSC Covered Hall, starting at 6:30 PM.

On the eve of the tournament, the marquee players and coaches from the six participating teams expressed their confidence in reaching the finals. After a month of closed training, coaches reported that their teams are prepared for the competition. They will be relying on both foreign and national players in this franchise-based league. 

Saroj Singh, coach of the Kathmandu Mavericks, said their closed training went very well and that all players are ready to showcase their skills on the mat. Kathmandu's marquee player, Ghanshyam Roka Magar, who is the national team captain and a winner of the Pro Kabaddi League in India, stated that every team's goal is to lift the trophy, and his team will also do its best in the tournament.

The Pokhara Lakers' coach Bishnu Datt Bhatt mentioned that his team includes national team members as well as players competing in India’s Pro Kabaddi League. Pokhara's marquee player, Pradip Mijar, expressed that his team has come into the league with high morale. "With a mix of foreign and national players, we are a balanced team. Our target is also to lift the trophy," he said.

Another team, the Janakpur Knights, hopes to emulate the success of the Janakpur Bolts from cricket's Nepal Premier League. Coach Parbati Rai stated that her players received excellent training during their month-long closed camp. Rai, recognized as Nepal's most decorated coach, said her players will strive to replicate the Bolts' success in this inaugural Kabaddi league. Ramu Tamatta serves as the marquee player for the Janakpur Knights.

Having trained for nearly 20 days in India, the Himalayan Raiders are the most confident team entering the NKL. The team has appointed two coaches, Sandip Pant and Pothuganti Satish Kumar. Coach Pant noted that the training in India has been very beneficial for the players. "Training in high-quality facilities, along with guidance from Indian coaches on Kabaddi skills, has significantly honed our players,” he said. Satish Kumar, an Indian coach, emphasized that the training has elevated the players' skills to a Pro Kabaddi level, predicting that Himalayan will return home as champions. Ganesh Bahadur Parki is the marquee player for Himalayan.

Mahesh Bohora, coach of the Dhangadhi Wildcats, mentioned that his players are excited to compete in the NKL. "Players from Kenya, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have bolstered our squad," he said. Marquee player Padam Bahadur Bist added that the team is prepared, with most players coming from the national squad. He anticipates strong competition from other teams in the league.

The Biratnagar Bandits, featuring many junior players, are eager to showcase their skills in the covered hall. Coach Lok Bahadur Bist shared that his team includes two players from Thailand and 12 Nepali players. Marquee player Kalyan Bhujel noted, "The NKL will be an excellent platform for Nepali Kabaddi players. Our junior players are keen to demonstrate their abilities in the tournament."