Can't dwell on past defeats, need to move ahead: UP Yoddhas’ Assistant coach Upendra Malik

The UP Yoddhas are set to take on Tamil Thalaivas in their next PKL Season 12 clash at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur on Monday. The Yoddhas have endured a difficult campaign so far, collecting only 4 points from their 6 matches. They are currently on a four-match losing streak and find themselves under pressure to turn things around quickly if they want to keep their season alive.

Assistant coach Upendra Malik admitted that the recent results have been tough on the team, but he stressed the importance of maintaining a positive environment within the camp. “As a coach, it is very important to ensure that the unit remains in a positive frame of mind, especially during tough phases. Players need to believe that every new game is a fresh opportunity. Dwelling on past losses won’t help, so our focus is always on moving forward,” Malik said after their defeat to Bengal Warriorz.

Looking back at the game against the Warriorz, Malik pointed out the areas where the team could have done better. “We had a strong start, and I was happy with the way our defence operated in the early stages. But when matches get close, patience is the key. We lost a bit of composure in some situations, and those errors cost us points. If we had shown a little more discipline and calmness, the match could have gone in our favour,” he explained.

Malik underlined that consistency and focus are critical in a league as competitive as PKL. “You cannot expect to win by playing well only in patches whether it’s 5, 10, or even 20 minutes. Kabaddi is about staying switched on for all 40 minutes. Both defence and offence need to work together throughout. One lapse can turn the game. That’s why I keep telling the players that even if we played well in parts, it doesn’t count if we lose. A defeat is a defeat, and we have to own that. The lack of patience in key moments was the difference in that game,” he concluded.

Please find below the previews for the PKL Season 12 matches on Monday, September 22:

Having lost three games on the trot, Gujarat Giants will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they face Bengaluru Bulls. The Giants are yet to see the best of Mohammadreza Shadloui this season and will be hoping that he can find his best form sooner rather than later, when they take on B.C. Ramesh’s side that have won four out of their last five matches.

In the second match of the day, Tamil Thalaivas will take on the UP Yoddhas. Both these teams haven’t been able to find some consistency this season, and find themselves in the mid-table scrap as a result. With two exciting raid units going head-to-head, this promises to be an action-packed encounter.

Tickets are available on District by Zomato, the official ticketing platform for PKL Season 12: https://www.district.in/events/pkl-2025-jaipur-team

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