Pro Kabaddi League: Fazel Atrachali reveals the secret behind his success

Fazel Atrachali, affectionately known as the Sultan in PKL, crossed Manjeet Chhillar's tally of 391 tackle points to reign atop the list of defenders for most tackle points in PKL. 

Why is Fazel Atrachali famous?

Unlike any other player, Fazel has mastered the left corner position and is a brilliant defender. Armed with incredible strength, he is highly clinical on the mat, and his composed demeanor makes him worthy of being captain. 

Besides leading Puneri Paltan, he is also the skipper of the Iranian national kabaddi team. He was responsible for capturing the historic gold medal for Iran at the 2018 Asian Games. 

Fazel's PKL career is laden with two titles for Best Defender and one runner-up finish. He captured the title with U Mumba in his debut appearance in season two and then won the league with Patna Pirates in season four. 

He was the skipper of the Gujarat Giants in season five and is currently the most expensive foreign player in the competition - being signed for ₹1.38 crore this season.

Fazel could not attend the opening weekend of PKL nine, and the team was in shambles without him. He returned to practice shortly after and inspired his team to win matches. 

His relentless form and relaxed consistency have fans and players wondering what the secret to his high-ordered sportsmanship is. 

What is the secret behind Fazel Atrachali's success?

In a press conference, Fazel Atrachali shared tidbits about his professional life. But even before he started, the Iranian quickly appreciated his team.

"Now that the team is in form, I'm proud of the team and the players," said Fazel. When asked about his thoughts on being the highest tackle point scorer in the league, he smiled playfully, admitting that he was unaware of it. 

Fazel then recollected the beginning of his career and talked about his struggles. "I remember my initial days that were tough. I'm very happy about his achievement," he remarked. 

"Having one successful year but playing well for 9-10 [seasons] is difficult. There are sacrifices one needs to make. It's about the hard work that is put in."

He believes he has zero regrets despite experiencing ups and downs in his journey. "It wasn't easy, and I'm happy I did a lot of hard work behind this to sit here."

As the skipper, Fazel showed immense love for his team and shared why Pune, including himself, is faring well. "Puneri Paltan is not about any individual player," he said. 

"We play like a team. Different players will perform in different matches. Our team is balanced. When we play as per our plan, we can beat other teams."

"We're successful since our defense and offense are doing good," he revealed. Puneri Paltan sits at the top of the table with seven wins and three losses. 

It is safe to say that their success in the ninth edition is guaranteed as long as Fazel is in top form and his presence at the helm continues to motivate his players.