Pro Kabaddi League: No Team Can Challenge Us This Season, Says Gujarat Giants Captain
Gujarat Giants captain Mohammadreza Shadloui spoke on motivating the players as captain
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2025-08-21 11:26 GMT
Speaking exclusively during a special media day organized by JioStar ahead of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, Gujarat Giants captain Mohammadreza Shadloui spoke on motivating the players as captain:
I think it’s very simple. As a captain, you should speak less with players and lead more by example. If you speak too much, they get confused. This season, I’ll try to guide them whenever it’s needed, in small ways, so that they can play better than last season. The goal is to push them, motivate them, and support them. You have to keep them mentally relaxed and give them energy. When you speak softly and in the right manner, they listen to you. But if you don’t, they won’t listen and then the team can lose. So, my approach is to keep it simple, lead by action, and motivate them positively.”
On his thought process with a new team this season:
“It’s very simple. I am going to play well, tackle well, and the players here love me, and I love them back. This season is very important for me. I can do everything for the team, I can raid, I can defend. I’m very confident, and I don’t see any raider who can challenge me. I can push the players to give their best. Our team is ready for everything. We have some excellent new raiders; they have speed, power, courage, and everything this sport needs. I think they will be extremely important for us this season, and I don’t think any team can challenge us. Only Giants can challenge the Giants.”
On his kabaddi journey so far:
“I started my journey when I was 11–12 years old. I come from Urmia city, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. At 17, I joined the senior national team, and my first international tournament was the Dubai Kabaddi Masters. After that, I trained with the Asian Games camp and then joined PKL. Kabaddi has given me everything, and I’m grateful for this journey.”
On playing with Gujarat Giants and learning from coach Jaivir Sharma:
“I have learned so many things from my teammates and my coach. I’ve also found some new friends in India. This season, I’m working with coach Jaivir Sharma, and he is a very good coach. He has already taught me many things about kabaddi in this short span of time. I love his coaching style, and I think his training will be very important in helping us win this year’s title.”
On team preparations for the upcoming season:
“We have practiced a lot and had some very good training sessions. We train twice every day. In the morning, we go to the gym or run, and in the evening, we work on kabaddi skills and strategies. We are also analysing opposition raiders closely to prepare our game plans. This season, I think teams will be surprised because we are coming with new skills and new strategies. I’m fully supporting my teammates, and together we are ready to fight for the title.”