Pro Kabaddi League: Chiyaneh of the Patna Pirates claim he will become the best defender in the history of the league

He scripted history for scoring the highest number of tackle points in a single match when he secured 16 points against Dabang Delhi K.C. Having joined last season; he is a latecomer to the party. 

However, that didn't affect his determination and confidence. "I have always trained hard during on and off-season," he said. The Iranian defender learned from his struggles last season and now claims to be well-versed with the technicalities needed to tackle different raiders. 

"My first PKL season was very hard for me. But now, I know how all the raiders play." Chiyaneh stated that he would go on to become the best defender in the league. 

"I would definitely like to be a part of the gold medal-winning team at the Asian Games next year and also become the best defender in vivo PKL history and I am confident that I will achieve this feat," he said.

Chiyaneh, who has been playing kabaddi for 11 years, was introduced to the sport by his friend. "My friend told me I have a good physique for kabaddi and then introduced me to the sport." There was no looking back for him after that.

Beyond kabaddi, Chiyaneh also claimed to have a big appetite for travelling, Irani food, watching movies and listening to music. As of now, the Patna Pirates are currently ninth with 48 points on the rankings table. 

They won seven out of 18 matches and will face 11th-ranked Gujarat Giants on December 2. 

Top five all-rounders in PKL 9

Rohit Gulia (Patna Pirates) - 126 points

Rohit Gulia has been a successful all-rounder since his debut in Season five with Gujarat Giants. He earned 38 points in his debut season and scored 61 points in the following edition. 

He outdid himself in season seven with 132 raid points and ten tackle points. Although he had a disappointing outing in season eight, his current season with the Patna Pirates could become his best by the end of the campaign. 

He currently has 126 points from 16 matches under his belt.

Parteek Dahiya (Gujarat Giants) - 117 points

Parteek Dahiya has been a standout player for the Gujarat Giants this year. He stands tall as a strong pillar of support for his team, and his exceptional performances have taken coach Ram Mehar Singh into his confidence. 

Known for his signature move, the running hand touch, Dahiya left a stunning record in his K7 stage Kabaddi career. He scored 250 points in 16 matches. In season nine of PKL, he scored 117 points in 16 games.

Mohammadreza Chiyaneh (Patna Pirates) - 68 points

Chiyaneh has profoundly impacted the league despite competing in his second season of the competition. He scored 89 tackle points in 24 matches last year. 

As of now, Chiyaneh is in pursuit of being the best defender of the league and his season nine record so far boasts 68 points in 16 matches. 

Vijay Malik (Dabang Delhi KC) - 61 points

Vijay was brilliant in season eight. His all-around abilities came to the forefront when he replaced the injured Naveen Kumar. He scored 157 raid points, along with five tackle points.

Although raiding is his biggest strength, he can tackle when necessary. As of now, he has secured 61 points in six matches so far in the ninth edition. 

Deepak Hooda (Bengal Warriors) - 54 points

Deepak Hooda has competed in every edition of the league. His performance speaks for his high intelligence and experience on the mat. 

He scored 120 points last season but wasn't retained by Jaipur Pink Panthers the following year. Deepak has secured 54 points in 16 matches in the ninth edition for the Bengal Warriors.