Akash Shinde battles adversity in quest for PKL trophy

In the heart of Nashiks Adgaon village a young boy named Akash Shinde dared to dream big Little did he know that his journey from playing in the muddy grounds of his town to becoming a PKL winner would inspire a generation of aspiring athletesInitially when I used to play I would come home with bruises because Kabaddi was played in the mud Akash recalls as he enters his fourth season with the Puneri Paltan And despite his familys initial concerns his passion for kabaddi burned bright fuelled by the unwavering support of his early mentors Sagar Malwade and Vinod LabdeHis path to success was far from smooth He faced numerous setbacks failing to make the cut in his first attempts at various levels I fell short in my first attempts at all levels I went for my senior camp for Maharashtra and fell short there tooBut instead of letting these failures discourage him Akash used them as stepping stones These setbacks kept me determined and I knew I needed to try harder and with renewed energy to show the world what I could do and achieveHis breakthrough came in 2019 at a seniors trial in Nashik This performance opened doors leading him to play in the Junior Nationals and eventually catching the eye of Yuva Paltan which is the Puneri Paltanrsquos academyThe turning point in Akashs career came when he represented his college in Beed earning his first chance to play for Maharashtra Under the guidance of Anil Jagdale and Kailas Jagdale his skills flourished His journey accelerated as he moved from Mahindra amp Mahindra to Yuva Paltan where mentors like Sangram and Ashok helped refine his gameAkashs PKL debut with Puneri Paltan in Season 8 was a moment of immense pride not just for him but for his entire village No player from the Nashik region had made it to PKL or even the Maharashtra team so it was a shock a pleasant one for everyone The entire Nashik district was very happy It felt really good he reminiscesBut it was in Season 9 that he truly announced his arrival becoming a formidable force on the mat In the 22 matches that Akash played on the way to his first PKL final he scored 139 raid points averaging 632 raid point per matchAlso Read Farm to fame The PKL journey that elevated Sachin Tanwar to stardomHis performances caught the eye of the national selectors earning him a spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games I received my Team India kit on the 27th of October I still remember it he says the excitement still palpable in his voiceThe crowning glory came in PKL Season 10 when Akash along with his Puneri Paltan teammates lifted the coveted trophy Albeit playing a diminished role he managed an impressive 56 raid points in the 13 matches he played There was only one target then we had made up our minds that we had to win the title this season whatever it took he shared reflecting on the teams collective determinationNow Akash stands as a beacon of hope for young athletes from rural India His message to them is clear Keep believing in yourselves and your dedication and efforts He emphasizes the importance of loyalty urging young players to stay true to the clubs that nurture themAs he prepares for PKL Season 11 his journey from the muddy grounds of Adgaon to the bright lights of Pro Kabaddi serves as a testament to the power of dreams determination and unwavering support In Akash Shinde Puneri Paltan doesnt just have a star raider they have a symbol of inspiration for an entire generation of kabaddi playersThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever