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Bulls gear up for an improved display

Kabaddi Pro League : Chillar, Nada key as season 4 kicks-off today
Last Updated 24 June 2016, 19:16 IST

 After their disappointing show in the third edition of the Pro Kabaddi League, a new-look Bengaluru Bulls' side will be eager to make their mark when the fourth edition of the tournament gets underway in Mumbai on Saturday.

The Bulls, who finished runners-up in the second edition of the league, failed to re-create the magic and finished a disappointing seventh in the previous edition, with just two wins and 12 defeats.

The Bulls' lost their marquee players — Ajay Thakur and Manjeet Chillar — to Puneri Paltan before the start of the third season and their absence was reflected in the team's inability to force the much needed wins.

Ahead of the fourth season, the team has been revamped and though the likes of Thakur and Chillar will still be missed, the Bulls provide a picture of a balanced unit with some experienced names like skipper Surender Nada, Mohit Chillar, Pawan Kumar and Manoj Kumar in their ranks.

Nada, the wily defender from Haryana, played a key role in helping U Mumba reach the final in the inaugural edition, and the 26-year-old’s fine performance in the second season was one of the highlights in U Mumba’s title-winning effort.

All set to turn out in Bengaluru colours for the first time, Nada said that he is excited to lead the side and is confident of his team’s chances.

“We are a balanced team and the youngsters have shown a lot of promise. All the players are aware of their roles and we are confident of pulling off a good show this time.” said Nada, who was part of the Indian team that won the South Asian Games gold in Guwahati.

Nada felt lack of experience proved costly for the Bulls last season. “The team lacked experience and it was evident from too many slip ups during crunch stages. The team was also unlucky in some matches. We have put the bitter past behind and are raring to go,” explained Nada.

  Mohit, the India international and another former U Mumba player, became the highest paid player in PKL when he was bought for a whopping Rs 53 lakh in the players’ auction this year. The 22-year-old defender, known for his sharp tackles and aggressive style of play, will be crucial to Bengaluru’s fortunes.

“There is no pressure on me. We have a strong defence and we will go hard at our opponents from the first game,” said Mohit.

The Bengaluru unit would want Deepak Kumar Dahiya and Amit Rathi, two of their top performers in the last season, to continue their good show this time as well. The Bulls take on Bengal Warriors in their first game in Mumbai on Sunday. 

The league will kick-start with the Mumbai leg, which will be from June 25 to 28 before moving to Jaipur (June 29-July 2). The league will then shift to Hyderabad (July 3-6). Following the Hyderabad leg, teams will face-off in Patna (July 7-10).

The next two legs will be held in Bengaluru (July 12-15) and Kolkata (July 16-19) before the final two legs in Mumbai (July 20-23) and Delhi (24-27). The semifinals (July 29) and the final, preceded by the third-fourth match (July 31) will be played in Hyderabad.   

Bengaluru Bulls’ Fixtures: In Mumbai: vs Bengal Warriors (June 26); vs U Mumba (July 23); In Jaipur: vs Jaipur Pink Panthers (June 30); vs Dabang Delhi (July 2); In Hyderabad: vs Puneri Paltan (July 4); vs Telugu Titans (July 5); In Patna: vs Patna Pirates (July 7); vs U Mumba (July 8); In Bengaluru: vs Telugu Titans (July 12); vs Jaipur Pink Panthers (July 13); vs Patna Pirates (July 14); vs Dabang Delhi KC (July 15); In Kolkata: vs Bengal Warriors (July 19); In Delhi: vs Puneri Paltan (July 27).

New season

60 matches will be played across seven venues in season four.
Patna Pirates are the defending champions.
Puneri Paltan will face Telugu Titans in the first match.
Jaipur Pink Panthers and U Mumba are the champions of the first two seasons.
The season will witness 24 foreign players across 12 countries.

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(Published 24 June 2016, 19:16 IST)

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