Fazel Atrachali, the highest paid foreigner in the ProKabaddi League at ₹1.11 crore (U Mumba shelled out this amount to retain him), is excited at the prospect of facing young raiders and watching young catchers emerge every season.
The Iranian star, set to captain his side in the season seven second-leg opener against Puneri Paltan on Saturday, explained that youth is tougher to handle than established Indian names.
“New players are more dangerous, you need to be very careful tackling them.”
Getting difficult
He elaborated: “Earlier, the game was simple. When you faced a player he would challenge you one-to-one, the skill of older players was known to you.
“Younger players do the dubki (dive) both sides, front kick, back kick, hand touch, leg touch, they jump and return… it is getting more difficult.
“All youngsters know to do this and in a way it is good because kabaddi is more interesting,”
Fazel, making a name as a left corner defender, featured in four league finals since making his debut in 2015.
U Mumba teammates Abhishek Singh, Surender Singh, young faces in other squads Naveen, Nitesh Kumar, Sachin Talwar are the names which come to his mind. Each of these young Indians were able to grab the opportunity.
Ankle hold specialist
Emerging from the Future Kabaddi Heroes programme, ankle hold specialist Nitesh was named best defender in only his second season and is leading UP Yoddhas in just his third season.
The Iranians are proven performers in the PKL, including Fazel, a wrestler-turned-kabaddi pro.
Plenty of academies
Asked about any system back home in Iran for youngsters looking to take up the sport, he said: “We have a lot of academies, training is free and arranged by the federation.
“In my village, there are students learning the sport. I give them training shoes and team jerseys to encourage them.”
He points that in northern Iran where he comes from, there is more interest in wrestling. “Iran is the number one wrestling nation. We have gold medallists from the World Cup and the Olympic Games; hence wrestling is the first choice for kids.”
Asked about wrestlers taking to kabaddi, he pointed out that both body contact sports demand different qualities. “They cannot play because in one second, a kabaddi move is over, whereas wrestling allows more time to execute a move.”
Fazel also noted similar techniques, like the ankle hold and wrestlers like him bring those moves to the kabaddi mat. His trademark move is the dash, using his powerful frame to retain hold on the raider.
The Iranian was at his menacing best in U Mumba’s opening game against Telugu Titans.