HYDERABAD: CE talks to Fazel Atrachali, an Iranian kabaddi player who currently captains Puneri Paltan and the Iran National kabaddi team, about how he rose from the streets of Iran and is now a favourite among sports fans in Hyderabad.
The Vivo Pro Kabaddi League was one of many sporting events that took place last week in Hyderabad. Puneri Paltan, one of six playoff participants in the ninth Vivo Pro Kabaddi League, advanced directly to the semifinals due to their top-tier performance after a close league stage. CE spoke with team captain Fazel Atrachali, who was in the city, from the sidelines of the game, about his journey and the love from fans and Hyderabad. Excerpts:
Yours is the first team to secure a spot in the Pro Kabaddi League semifinals this season. What’s going on?
I’m thrilled for my team, but the semi-final isn’t all that special for me because I’ve made it to the semis before. I want to be in the finals, where I can compete for the championship and bring it to Pune.
Given that Puneri Paltan is a young team, how do you lead them? What did you think of your experience?
You are aware that being a captain is always challenging, particularly when working with young and promising players. There is a lot of pressure at all times. It becomes easier to lead a young team in a way that makes them listen to you. The fact that Puneri Paltan has a lot of young, promising talent and that they are playing really well this season makes it easy for me to do my job.
You led Iran to the 2018 Asian Games gold medal and its current success with PP. How has it been travelling?
Being a captain of a team is not always easy. You have more responsibilities and more pressure because being a captain is difficult.
Because you are not only responsible for yourself but also the unit as a whole, you need to be even more calculated and careful. Because kabaddi is a team sport, a captain cannot do much if the team is not performing well; therefore, a captain can only perform well when his team is performing well. The journey of being a captain has been similar. I also believe that it is not just about a captain. The most important thing at the end is a team effort. I consider myself extremely fortunate because, each time I have captained a team, I have been able to lead a great unit, which has made me a better player and captain for Puneri Paltan as well as the Iran team.
You are attending the games in Hyderabad. Have you ever been to the city? Which did you enjoy?
I have also been to Hyderabad before, but I haven’t had a chance to leave because I have always been training or at the games. However, I adore the locals because they are so welcoming. I’m grateful to everyone in India for their kindness toward me, and they have always supported and assisted me.
Did you always want to play the kabaddi?
When I first started playing kabaddi, I think I was around 11 years old. Since that time, I remember that I had always wanted to play the kabaddi. However, prior to that, I had never considered playing on a national or professional level; I simply enjoyed the sport so much that I began playing and eventually became obsessed with it.
What would you have been if you weren’t a kabaddi player?
I’m not sure what I would have done if I weren’t a kabaddi player, but I’ve always known I wanted to be a sportsman. I used to wrestle or play football before I started kabaddi. I’ve always enjoyed contact sports, and who knows if I would have been a wrestler or a UFC fighter. And if sports weren’t my thing, I wanted to be a firefighter.
Protests in Iran have recently made the news. What do you think?
Although I would prefer not to discuss the situation in Iran here, I sincerely hope that my family will be content.
What other interests do you have in addition to sports?
I usually enjoy spending time with family and friends more than sports. I adore spending time in forests and the mountains. Going on road trips with friends is something I really enjoy.
What is your next move? What’s your next objective?
I have the medals for the Asian Games, the World Cup, beach kabaddi, and pro kabaddi. I truly need to have another Ace Kabaddi title decoration. I likewise need to have another go at the 2023 Asian Games. It will be my fourth Asian Games, a record for me. As a result, my two current objectives are to represent Puneri Paltan in the Asian Games and win the PKL trophy.