Hyderabad: Talismanic Kabaddi player Deepak Hooda is hailed as one of the best all-rounders in the Pro Kabaddi League and his leadership skills has led to him becoming the captain of the Indian team.
Hooda made his international debut during the 2016 South Asian Games and made an instant impact as the side clinched gold in kabaddi. Known to lead by example, Deepak Hooda spoke about the rallies behind his team even when the going gets tough.
"Being a captain is a big responsibility as you need to unify the young and senior players and make them not only play together but win matches as well. When we lose a match, motivating your team during this situation is one of the key characteristics of a leader which is a big responsibility. I have seen this in my seniors! At first, I played under Anup Kumar in the Indian team, then I played under Ajay Thakur. I have been leading a team in the PKL since a few years, which has given me a perspective on how to manage a team and how to motivate the team during tough times," he said.
Hooda said that he has been toughened by difficult times that he has had to go through throughout his career. "I have witnessed a lot of tough times throughout my career, and I have drawn inspiration from my struggle. Tough times gave me the strength to improve my life and support my family. When I came to Air India, Ajay Thakur motivated me very much," he said.
He may be a prolific all-rounder but Hooda admitted that he likes raiding more than defending. "I like both, defence and raiding, but I like raiding a bit more. I also like defence because for a lot of years I was playing as a cover for India and in the PKL till the second season," he said.
