Deepak Hooda to lead India kabaddi squad in 2019 South Asian Games

A selection committee, headed by the President of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, S.P. Garg announced the 12-men roster that will travel to Kathmandu in Nepal to represent India in the XIIIth South Asian Games next month.

The star-studded roster will be captained by Jaipur Pink Panthers' Deepak Niwas Hooda and the reigning vivo Pro Kabaddi Best Raider Pawan Kumar Sehrawat will be the vice-captain of the team.

The Indian raiding unit will also feature two-time Most Valuable Player ‘Record-Breaker’ Pardeep Narwal as well as current league MVP, Dabang Delhi K.C.’s Naveen Kumar. Haryana Steelers’ ace raider Vikash Kandola and Puneri Paltan’s Darshan Kadian are also part of the roster.

In defence, veteran Left Corner Surender Nada will make his return to the national fold. Two of the league’s brightest young defenders, Telugu Titans’ Vishal Bhardwaj and U.P. Yoddha’s Nitesh Kumar are likely to be India’s primary Corner duo, while Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Right Corner Amit Hooda will provide cover to the team.  

Gujarat Fortunegiants’ dynamic defensive duo of Parvesh Bhainswal and Sunil Kumar are the only recognised Covers in the roster, indicating that the two will likely be the starters in those positions.

Former Jaipur Pink Panthers coach Balwan Singh and former Puneri Paltan coach Ashan Kumar were named the coaches of this team. The XIIIth South Asian Games are set to commence of the December 1^st and nine times gold medallists India will start as the favourites to bag a 10^th gold medal in kabaddi.