Star players, be it in any sport, being in awe of their competitors or rival players is a rare sight but when it does happen, it looks quite amazing. Dabang Delhi‘s star raider Kashiling Adake, one of the best raiders in Pro Kabaddi League, is a fan of U Mumba superstar Anup Kumar and made no bones about expressing his admiration. With Pro Kabaddi 2016 Season 4 just days away, Adake spoke to Sportskeeda in an exclusive interview, talking about his preparations.
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Here are a few excerpts from the interview:
How are the preparations going for the new season?
We have been working really hard for quite a while now and are raring to go for Pro Kabaddi 2016 Season 4. The last season was not good and we made quite a few mistakes, which proved to be really costly. However, we are happy to have new players in the outfit and having Sagar sir (new head coach) in the outfit has been excellent. I feel that Dabang Delhi can look forward to the fourth season with great positivity.
New head coach Sagar Bandekar looks quite enthusiastic and has praised you quite a lot. Explain a little bit about his style.
Sagar sir has been fantastic and his body of knowledge is quite exceptional when it comes to Kabaddi. The kind of knowledge he brings in is exceptional and I am sure we will all benefit from his know-how of the sport. There are few coaches in the kabaddi arena with the experience he has and that could prove to be the turning point. We have been working hard and are trying to gel as a unit.
The last season was a major disappointment for Dabang Delhi. It has not been long since it got over. How have you managed to recover?
The performances last season were quite evident of the fact that we were not gelling as a team and could not get our act together. However, this season, we are raring to go with a new squad, which is full of talented players and has an amazing balance. We have made some excellent additions in our team with players who have won the league previously (Deepak Narwal and D Suresh Kumar).
Your story is quite remarkable. From a small place in Maharashtra to becoming a national-level kabaddi star, how have things changed for you and your family?
The change has been drastic from every point of view and we are thankful to the organisers of Pro Kabaddi for giving players like us the opportunity to get recognition at the national level. Earlier I used to live in a broken house and things were so bad that stray dogs used to keep coming and going through our house. Now that I got money through Pro Kabaddi, I have been able to build a house for me and my family.
What does your everyday diet contain and what is your routine?
I wake up everyday early morning and go for my training. After coming back, I have around 10-12 eggs with milk and other breakfast items. The protein part in my diet is quite heavy and I eat everything, vegetarian and non-vegetarian. I have to work really hard in order to keep my body fit, especially my arms and legs because they contribute heavily in my game.
Other than playing kabaddi, what else do you like doing?
I love watching cartoons (smiles) on TV. Whatever cartoons come on TV, I watch them and they help me relax.
Which sportsperson did you idolise while growing up?
Sachin Tendulkar. There is no other name that comes to my mind. He has been an inspiration for people from Maharashtra and the entire country.
Who is your favourite raider in Pro Kabaddi League?
Anup Kumar, without any question. It is a pleasure to play against him. He is a top class player and one can learn so much from his game, be it in terms of fitness or technique. He is the best player in his position and has proved it in all three seasons of Pro Kabaddi League.
You are quite soft spoken. This time, you have been made the captain of the team. Will you shout to fire them up if the need be?
I do not like shouting and all. The fact that they are playing in a league like Pro Kabaddi is motivation enough. However, if it will be required of me to shout at them, then I will do it without thinking twice.
