Surinder proud to have realized his Pro Kabaddi dreams

One of the major themes to come out of Season 5 of VIVO Pro Kabaddi is the emergence of a number of young players who have seamlessly adjusted to the bright lights and pressure that emanates from stepping onto the mat in front of a raucous crowd. Vishal Bhardwaj of Telugu Titans and Gujarat Fortunegiants’ Sachin have been two of the biggest revelations of the season thus far.

Another youngster who has fitted into his team’s plans effortlessly is U Mumba defender Surinder Singh. Playing in his debut season in the league, Surinder was identified in the New Young Players (NYP) initiative, which aims at providing a great platform for aspiring talents who wish to rub shoulders with the stars of today.

The young defender who has become a regular starter for U Mumba this season spoke about his journey to the VIVO Pro Kabaddi stage while in conversation with prokabaddi.com recently. ”I always had an interest in this sport and I started playing kabaddi when I was in school. When I was in hostel I saw Pro Kabaddi for the first time and I came to know that there is such a big platform for the players, and I started practising more to reach the grand stage which VIVO Pro Kabaddi offers us,” Surinder said.

Substantiating the impact Pro Kabaddi has had on the lives of players, he added: “It had a very good impact on my life because we play for the love of the sport and because of Pro Kabaddi we have got so much fame. Over here we play because we love this sport and we are also getting paid for that.”

When asked about the most memorable moment of his rather nascent career, Surinder’s answer was one all young hopefuls will easily relate to. “I think the selection camp which was held in Mumbai was the most memorable moment for me because I was always very tense about whether or not I’ll be selected,” he said.

Even though it’s his first season on such a grand stage, Surinder believes playing alongside Captain Cool Anup Kumar has accelerated his kabaddi education. “I have learned a lot because as a new player there was a lack of experience. The important thing which I have learned from him is to be patient,” he said.

The 19-year-old parted with a message for the passionate supporters of Mumbai, who are renowned for their vocal support. “We want their support because we will be playing on our home ground [from August 25-31]. We will try not to let them down and perform well,” Surinder concluded.