PKL 11: My only target is to lift trophy, says Haryana Steelers coach Manpreet Singh

Haryana Steelers were the first team to qualify for PKL 11 playoffs.

Haryana Steelers showed their dominance in Pro Kabaddi 2024 (PKL 11) with a commanding 47-30 win over U Mumba at the Badminton Hall in the Balewadi Sports Complex on Sunday night.

U Mumba’s’ captain Sunil and coach addressed the media after their loss, while Haryana’s captain Jaideep and coach shared their views on the team’s win in PKL 11.

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On losing to Haryana Steelers and PKL 11 qualification

Shivam Patare was the star of the show, delivering a stellar 14-point performance that kept the Steelers firmly in control throughout the match. This crucial victory not only cemented their position at the top of the PKL 11 table but also left U Mumba’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

“We need only one point to qualify for the playoffs, we will face Bengal Warriorz next in PKL 11 and we will try to win that, ” said Sunil Kumar.

“Losing a match by 17 points this close to the playoffs is definitely a bad thing. We will try to boost our confidence and play the next match and try and win it, ” he added.

On Haryana Steeler’s campaign in PKL 11

The game began with the Haryana Steelers taking an early lead as Rinku’s tackle on Vinay and Manjeet’s bonus point set the tone. A decisive ALL OUT inflicted by Shivam Patare pushed the score to 11-7, establishing the Steelers’ authority. By halftime, the table-toppers had extended their lead to 26-14, thanks to another ALL OUT and solid defensive contributions from Mohammadreza Shadloui and Sanjay.

“As I have always said, our defence is our strength, and we win whenever they play well. Our raiders have always supported us, but it has been about the defence. Our defence didn’t play well, so we lost but today our defence played well so we won, ” said Haryana Captain Jaideep.

On Haryana’s route ahead in PKL 11

The second half saw the Steelers maintain their dominance. Patare continued his brilliance, supported by Vinay’s sharp raids and Shadloui’s defensive prowess. U Mumba fought back with moments of resistance but couldn’t bridge the gap. The Steelers inflicted a third ALL OUT to seal the match, ending with a decisive 17-point margin. This emphatic performance solidifies the Haryana Steelers’ title credentials in PKL 11.

“It has been six-seven seasons for Haryana Steelers to have shown this kind of performance. It feels really good to see Haryana at the top of the table, becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs and directly into the semifinals, ” coach Manpreet Singh added.

“See in PKL no one remembers who comes second. So my target is to get the trophy which we narrowly missed out on last time, ” he concluded.

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