New Delhi [India], September 19 (ANI): As the Indian males’s Kabaddi crew prepares to symbolize the nation on the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Aslam Inamdar and debutant Devank Dalal consider the duty of taking part in for India needs to be embraced with out the burden of strain, with the crew decided to deliver house one other gold medal.
The Indian males’s crew will start its Asian Games marketing campaign towards hosts Japan on September 21, earlier than dealing with South Korea on September 22, Bangladesh on September 23 and Chinese Taipei on September 24 in Group A, in response to a launch.
The semi-finals will happen on September 25, with the gold medal match scheduled for September 26.
For Devank Dalal, the Asian Games will mark his first look for India at a serious worldwide multi-sport occasion. The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12’s second-highest scoring raider, with 271 raid factors, mentioned the chance has introduced with it a larger sense of duty.
“This is my first time going to the Asian Games. I am happy for myself, my family and my coach. I am happy for everyone. Now that I am going, my responsibilities have increased. I will have to bring gold for India. If India has chosen me, I will have to do it,” mentioned Dalal, as quoted by the discharge.
The 23-year-old, nonetheless, believes the expectations surrounding the Indian crew needs to be seen as duty reasonably than strain. “You don’t have to take pressure. Pressure and responsibility are two different things. Here, there is only responsibility, not pressure. We don’t believe that pressure is a thing. If you take pressure, you won’t be able to play. If you don’t play, how will India win? We will play without pressure and win,” he said.
Aslam Inamdar, who was a part of India’s gold-medal successful crew on the 2022 Asian Games, believes the present squad has developed sturdy chemistry by its expertise collectively within the Pro Kabaddi League and throughout the nationwide camps.
“There is a very good bonding with the team. Because all of them are our stars. They are the captains of every team in PKL. We had a very good experience in PKL. They had a very good game in PKL. There is a good bonding with the Indian team,” mentioned Inamdar.
Inamdar additionally highlighted the function of the skilled gamers in serving to the youthful members of the squad method their first worldwide task with confidence. “The young players like Ayaan, Ankit, Rahul, etc. They have a lot of experience in PKL and Nationals. But the international match is a little different. So, consistency is very important. So, they are told to play the game with a free mind… Feel proud to represent the country and fight for gold,” he signed off.
Indian Men’s Kabaddi Team for 2026 Asian Games: Sunil Kumar (captain) Pawan Sehrawat Ankit Jaglan Aslam Inamdar Ashu Malik Ayan Lohchab Devank Dalal Arjun Deshwal Jaideep Dahiya Rahul Sethpal Gaurav Khatri Sumit Sangwan. (ANI)