Imagine the thrill of a team breaking a long drought of disappointment, clinching a spot in the prestigious top eight after years of near misses—it's the kind of victory that sends fans into a frenzy and coaches into heartfelt gratitude. But here's where it gets exciting: how do you turn a struggling squad into contenders? Dive in to uncover the story behind Telugu Titans' resurgence in Pro Kabaddi 2025, and you might just rethink what it takes to triumph in high-stakes sports.
Telugu Titans' head coach, Krishan Kumar Hooda, couldn't hide his delight as his team secured their place in the top eight of Pro Kabaddi 2025. On Saturday, October 18, the Titans stormed to a convincing 40-31 win over Puneri Paltan, marking a significant milestone—for the first time since Season 4, they're back among the elite. For beginners new to kabaddi, this sport is like a high-energy mix of wrestling and tag, where teams score points by raiding opponents and defending their own half, all while showcasing incredible athleticism and strategy.
Krishan Kumar Hooda described this achievement as absolutely essential for the team's morale. He poured out thanks to the dedicated players and the supportive management team. The coach emphasized that the Titans plan to maintain their winning momentum in upcoming matches, reminding everyone that while all teams start on equal footing, superior performance is the key to clinching those crucial victories.
In his words from the post-match press conference, he shared, 'This was something we desperately needed. It's been years since the team last made it this far. I'm incredibly thankful to the players and the management. I can't even begin to describe the immense effort they've put in. We'll keep playing with this same intensity. Sure, every team is capable, but if we execute well, we'll definitely secure wins in the next games.'
Looking back, Hooda recalled how the Titans came agonizingly close to qualifying just last year. He again praised the management for affording him the autonomy to coach freely, allowing him to make decisions without interference.
'Coaching is something many do skillfully,' he continued, 'and I've been with this team for two years now. We were so close to qualifying last year, but this season, we're performing even better. I want to give full credit to the team and the management for granting me complete freedom in all aspects.'
Currently, Telugu Titans sit in third place on the leaderboard, boasting 18 points and a score difference of 51 from 16 matches. Their sights are set on finishing in the top four, with upcoming clashes against the Gujarat Giants and Haryana Steelers promising more intense action.
And this is the part most people miss: the strategic experimentation happening on the other side. Puneri Paltan's head coach, Ajay Thakur, revealed that they used the match as an opportunity to test their depth by fielding a fresh lineup. Already assured of a top-two finish and qualification, Puneri Paltan opted for a new team to evaluate their bench strength.
Thakur explained that it was only right to give emerging talents a chance to shine. He believed this would aid their growth and help them understand their strengths and weaknesses under real pressure.
'As coaches, we aimed to assess the younger players' abilities and see how they handle high-pressure situations,' he said. 'It's fair to provide them opportunities since they've been training hard too. They'll gain valuable lessons from this experience and improve on their errors. Competing in this way against a strong third-placed team is a huge step, even in defeat.'
With just one game left, Puneri Paltan is eager to cap off their season at the top of the table before the qualifiers begin.
Now, here's where it gets controversial: Is experimenting with lineups during a competitive match fair, especially when it might undermine the opponent's preparation? Some fans argue it's a smart way to develop talent and keep things unpredictable, while others see it as disrespectful to the game or even a tactical ploy to rest stars for bigger battles. What do you think—should teams always go all-out, or is rotation a necessary evil in a long season? Share your thoughts in the comments below; I'd love to hear agreements, disagreements, or fresh perspectives on this debate!
Feedback
Why did you not like this content?
- Clickbait / Misleading
- Factually Incorrect
- Hateful or Abusive
- Baseless Opinion
- Too Many Ads
- Other
CancelSubmit
Was this article helpful?
Thank You for feedback
About the author
Rishabh is an Indian Sports writer at Sportskeeda who covers Kabaddi, Hockey, Indian football and Olympic sports for the website. He has an overall experience of around 3 years and has worked with My Khel in the past along with interning at The News Minute, Times Network and Deccan Herald.
Rishabh has done MA in Media and Communication Studies. He also worked in Sportskeeda’s Comms team and won the ‘Commentator of the Month’ award twice. He covered the Pro Kabbadi League and two of his articles were also featured on Jaipur Pink Panthers’ official website.
Rishabh started following sports after 2020 Olympics and also after his experience of watching Bengaluru FC at the Kanteerava Stadium in the ISL between 2019 and 2023. His favorite athlete is Neeraj Chopra as he’s brought a revolution in Indian sports. His historic gold medal win at the 2020 Olympics left a lasting impact on Rishabh.
He strives to ensure that his articles are accurate and he verifies information from multiple credible sources. When not working, he likes playing badminton and football.
Know More (https://www.sportskeeda.com/author/rishab-vm-1)
Quick Links
More from Sportskeeda
Edited by Rishab Vm
