Exclusive- Ram Meher Singh: We turned Pardeep Narwal into a star

The coach also reacted to the exceptional performance of the Patna Pirates this season.

The Patna Pirates have been performing tremendously well in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 8. The team do not have the services of star raider Pardeep Narwal this season. However, it did not dampen the spirit of the team, as they have been producing top performances in the PKL under the tutelage of Ram Meher Singh.

The Pirates became the first team to qualify for the playoffs this season. From Sachin Tanwar to Mohammadreja, everyone has given their best for the team. Coach Ram Meher Singh is very happy with the team's performances. He gave his opinion on many issues in an exclusive conversation with Khel Now.

Before the onset of PKL Season 8, no one could have imagined that the team of Patna Pirates would perform so well. However, to everyone's surprise, Patna became the first team to qualify for the playoffs, with some commanding wins. According to coach Ram Meher Singh, the preparation of the team is the key reason behind their success.

He remarked, “The management and the fans want to see Patna Pirates in the same form every time. However, it is not always possible, as all the 12 teams come well-prepared and everyone wants to win. We have won three seasons of PKL, which is quite historic. We did a lot of preparation during the camp. Guman Singh did a great job during the camp.”

“We have rotated the players exquisitely. We work a lot on the strength and speed of the players and ensure that each player is completely fit and does not suffer from any injuries. This is the secret of my team’s success," added Ram Meher Singh.

Turning Pardeep Narwal into a star

Star raider Pardeep Narwal and Patna Pirates were synonymous each other in the PKL. However, they parted ways before the start of Season 8. Narwal shifted from Patna to UP Yoddha. Ram Meher Singh opined that the team is not feeling Pardeep's absence, but he still shares a strong bond with him.

He stated, “We are not missing Pardeep Narwal at all. However, my bond as a coach is still strong with him. Pardeep Narwal knows what my contribution is in taking him to this level. Even if someone comes today and takes credit, everyone knows what I have done for Pardeep and where I have taken him.”

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Ram Meher Singh further added, “It is the coach, management and the team that makes a player a star. No one knew Pardeep Narwal before. Star players like Rohit Kumar, Monu Goyat and Sandeep Narwal are also the contribution of Patna. A player does not come from home as a star, he is made a star by the team and the coach. Patna Pirates has given the highest number of star players.”

Pardeep Narwal may have joined a new team, but his performances haven't been satisfactory this season. In such a situation, speculation has also arisen about whether Narwal's performances have been affected due to him leaving Patna Pirates. Ram Meher Singh refused to comment on this issue.

He noted, "Even if I knew this thing, I probably wouldn't tell. Some things are not to be spoken in public. If I tell about his weakness, then it is wrong. That's why I don't think I should speak about it."

Mohammadreza has been terrific

The Patna Pirates have found a gem in Mohammadreza Chiyaneh this season, who has created fear among other teams with his strong performances in PKL 8. The all-rounder from Iran has recorded the second-highest number of tackles this season. Ram Meher Singh revealed how he found Mohammadreza before the start of the campaign.

He said, “Mohammadreza was bought by us after watching the National Games of Iran. We had seen his videos and after 2-3 months of hard work, he is now showing a tremendous game. He swoops like a lion. Mohammadreja is the tiger of Patna Pirates."

The coach also accepted the fact that all the teams in PKL 8 are equally dangerous. He stated that no team is behind anyone in terms of quality. Any team can win a match on the given day.

“All 12 teams are dangerous, even if a team is in the last spot. Everyone has given a tough competition to each other. No team is perfect. Only the teams' combinations and performances differ. Anyone can beat anyone," he concluded.

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