K Prapanjan keeps it fresh by learning from Pardeep Narwal, Pawan Sehrawat

 

K Prapanjan’s mantra for success in vivo Pro Kabaddi is simple -- dedication.

In the league since the fourth season, K Prapanjan made a slow start to his vivo PKL career; he had made only 19 appearances in his first three campaigns and scored just 19 raid points.

Since then, K Prapanjan has scored at nearly 5.5 raid points per match (347 raid points in 64 matches), his efforts paying off in the last three seasons as he strived to up his game.

“If a raider has to click in PKL, he has to be dedicated, no matter if he is a junior or senior player,” K Prapanjan explained on Beyond the Mat, Pro Kabaddi’s live chat show hosted on Instagram. “Seniors and juniors might not have the same techniques, so the seniors shouldn’t hesitate to learn from the juniors and be dedicated in their careers.”

He may not be as prolific as some of the top raiders in vivo Pro Kabaddi -- K Prapanjan currently sits 22nd in the all-time top raid-scorers list with 366 points from 83 matches -- but he is constantly learning.

“We cannot replicate Pardeep Narwal or Pawan Sehrawat, but we can grasp their techniques and perform them according to our style,” explained Prapanjan, who entered the limelight as the second raider to Ajay Thakur for Tamil Thalaivas during Season 5.

“We can improve our skills that way. This is how I learn techniques, by looking at them - adapting them according to my height and weight.

“I cannot play like Sukesh (Hegde) Anna, but I can learn his techniques and apply them according to my physical fitness. That is how a raider can be successful," he pointed out.

Both Sukesh Hegde and K Prapanjan were part of the title-winning Bengal Warriors team in Season 7. While captain Maninder Singh led the raids for his side, with 205 points in 20 matches,  Prapanjan too proved key to the campaign. He scored 102 points in 20 games -- that included his season-best four Super Raids -- as the second raider.