Visakhapatnam: Haryana Steelers may have suffered a defeat against Bengal Warriorz in their Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 opener, but head coach Manpreet Singh emphasized that there is no cause for alarm.
In a thrilling encounter, Bengal Warriorz secured a 54-44 victory, giving their campaign a strong start.
“We played well. Our raiding was solid, and our defence held up, but there’s a big difference between winning a match and winning a trophy,” Singh said, according to a PKL press release.
The coach was quick to point out that the team is still finding its rhythm. “It’s difficult to perform at peak levels in the first match. Every league takes a game or two for the team to settle. Once we click, you’ll see a very different Haryana Steelers,” he added.
Star raider Naveen Kumar reflected on the loss candidly: “We lost because we didn’t execute what the coach asked. The boys fought hard, but we made mistakes that Bengal Warriorz capitalised on, like the Super Raid. These are minor errors, and we’ll correct them quickly.”
Singh’s determination was evident: “This is just the first step. We’re not here to count wins and losses; our aim is to lift the trophy. That’s the only benchmark I measure this team by.”
Ending on a note of intent, he warned the rest of the league: “We’ll fix our mistakes and come back stronger. When this team clicks, everyone will feel the heat. Haryana Steelers aren’t just here to compete — we’re here to dominate.”
Meanwhile, three-time champions Patna Pirates are set to play their first match of PKL 12 against UP Yoddhas on Monday. All eyes will be on experienced raider Maninder Singh and Ayan Lohchab, while captain and defensive anchor Ankit Jaglan will be expected to neutralize threats from Gagan Gowda and Bhavani Rajput.
