'Big difference between winning a match and winning a trophy:' Manpreet Singh after Haryana Steelers’ defeat against Bengal Warriorz

Haryana Steelers may have gone down against Bengal Warriorz in their Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 opener, but head coach Manpreet Singh made it clear that this was no reason to panic.

“We played very well. Our raiding was strong, and our defence also held its ground. But there’s a big difference between winning a match and winning a trophy,” said Singh, his words carrying a message that the defending champions' ambitions lie far beyond this result.

The coach was quick to stress that the team is still finding its rhythm. “It is very difficult to perform at peak levels in the first match. Every league takes one or two matches for the team to settle. Once the team is set, you will see a very different Haryana Steelers.”

Star raider Naveen Kumar also pulled no punches while reflecting on the loss. “We lost the match because we didn’t do what the coach had told us to do. The boys fought, but we made mistakes that Bengal Warriorz capitalised on, like the Super Raid. These are small errors, and we will fix them fast.”

At the same time, Singh’s defiance stood out. “This is just the first step. We’re not here to count wins and losses; we’re here to lift the trophy at the end. That’s the only standard I’m holding this team to.”

Closing on a note of intent, Singh issued a warning to the rest of the league. “We’ll correct our errors and come back harder. When this team clicks, everyone will feel the heat. Haryana Steelers will not just compete — we are here to dominate."

Preview for the matches on September 1:

Three-time champions Patna Pirates will take the mat for the first time in PKL 12, this time against the UP Yoddhas. All eyes will be on experienced raider Maninder Singh alongside Ayan Lohchab, while their defensive stalwart and skipper Ankit Jaglan will be expected to keep the likes of Gagan Gowda and Bhavani Rajput quiet this time around.

The second match of the night will see Gujarat Giants take on Puneri Paltan. The Paltan will face a tough challenge against the likes of Mohammadreza Shadloui and Rakesh. The Paltan, meanwhile, are loaded with star all-rounders led by Aslam Inamdar, and this will ensure that the clash between these two sides will be one to watch out for.

Tickets are available on District by Zomato, the official ticketing platform for PKL Season 12: https://link.district.in/DSTRKT/PKLS12Visakhapatnam2025

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The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar from 7:30 pm onwards.