New Delhi: Tamil Thalaivas have appointed Udaya Kumar as their chief coach and Dharmaraj Cheralathan as the strategy coach for the upcoming 11th season of the Pro Kabaddi League. It is for the first time in the history of PKL that a team has chosen to move ahead without the traditional setup of a head and assistant coach and has instead gone for a dual-coach system “to enhance and guide the team collaboratively.”
Kumar will be bringing an ocean of experience with him for the Thalaivas. He is specially known for possessing exceptional skills in player development and also boasts an impressive track record as the coach of the Indian national kabaddi team. The team enjoyed success under his guidance in the Asian Games in 2002, 2006, and 2014, bagging gold medals in each of the editions. His work would include year-round player development and enhancing the overall skill set of the team. His expertise is expected to be vital in blossoming young talent and strengthening the core of the team as well.
“By implementing a cohesive team dynamic, we aim to secure a remarkable victory. Rather than focusing on established superstars, we are committed to providing opportunities to new, young, and talented players,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, Cheralathan, a former Pro Kabaddi player is well known for his on-field strategies and prowess. He played a crucial role in Patna Pirates’ season 4 PKL triumph and also has a brilliant international career record, having won the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup and clinching gold in the 2017 South Asian Games and the Asian Beach Games. He is currently the head coach of the Indian Railways team, which just finished second in the Senior Nationals. His work will be focused on building match strategies and in-game decision-making for the Thalaivas.
As we hail from the birthplace of kabaddi, we have a profound obligation to the sport. I am confident that we will make a strong comeback this year. We are introducing innovative strategies and are committed to giving our fullest effort this season,” said Cheralathan.
CEO speaks
With the stalwart duo joining in for the 11th season, Tamil Thalaivas can lay back in terms of getting to learn from the best which might prove instrumental in the team’s quest for the title. Their immense experience and dedication is expected to bring a change in the Thalaivas’ fate in the PKL.
“The idea of onboarding coaches with diverse roles is to focus on the franchise’s long-term vision of nurturing and developing young talent. Cheralathan, an ex-PKL player, brings a fresh ideology to the team and extensive experience in on-mat decision-making. His ability to connect with players will be invaluable in achieving our goals,” said Shushen Vashishth, the CEO of Tamil Thailavas.
Tamil Thalaivas has broken the tradition of teams proceeding with a head coach and assistant coach in PKL history, and have instead opted for a dual-coach system to improve performance of the team and vie for the title. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
