'Fully Prepared' Aslam Inamdar Aims To Make Memorable Comeback After Knee Injury
After missing the majority of the Pro Kabaddi League season in 2024 due to a knee injury, Aslam Inamdar is aiming to make a big comeback in the PKL this year for the Puneri Paltans and help them become champions once again.
Inamdar suffered a meniscus tear in his knee last year, and the injury was so serious that he required surgical intervention. His injury took a toll on his team's performance as well, and Puneri Paltan could only manage to finish 8th in the league table.
Inamdar, who has been associated with the Pune-based team since the start of his PKL career, made only seven appearances for Puneri Paltan in 2024, and in that he earned a total of 38 points (31 in raid and 7 in defence).
However, despite his long-term absence from the mat, Puneri Paltan not just retained him ahead of the new season, which is starting on August 29, 2025, but also appointed him as the captain of the team.
The 25-year-old kabaddi player, during an interview with News 18, declared that he is fully fit to make a comeback this year and is sure about living up to the expectations.
'I am fully prepared for season 12. Because I started everything with a strong mindset after my injury. So, I am just waiting for season 12 to start. I have worked well with my team. I have taken care of my health, my body, my diet, and my workout, and that was important for me because I want to change the mindset in Kabaddi and prove that even after an injury a player can once again perform like the way he used to do before his injury," Aslam said.
'So, I am prepared for that. And I just want to show that in season 12, Aslam will come back in the same way," he added.
According to Aslam, whenever any sportsperson suffers an injury, he starts doubting himself and goes into a negative zone, which one should not do, and instead staying positive will help more.
'I think it is a little challenging for every sportsperson. Because he thinks that if he has an injury, then what will happen in life? Will he recover? Will he be able to make a comeback? Players think like that. They go into a negative zone, but when you suffer injury, your mindset should be strong, and you should have belief in yourself that you can do everything."
'And this is easy for me because I think when there is a bad fall in your life, it is not challenging for you. You have to accept that challenge. And you have to take care of it. So, I think your mentality should be strong. You have to stay positive and think that I can do something, and I will do it. Until you stay positive, your recovery time will be very long. So, the more positive you stay, the stronger your mindset will be," he added.
Despite his injury, Aslam was retained by Puneri Paltan for PKL 2025, and when asked about the conversation with the team owners and coaches about retention and during his recovery phase as well, Aslam said that Pune management and support staff take care of him like a family member.
'It (the recovery period) was very good. Because my team owner was with me like a family member. He was with me in every situation and said, Do whatever you want; have whatever facilities you need. We are with you. So, since the injury, he has been with me, and I have been with the team for 4 years. Our owner, Jai Sir, has supported me a lot. Our coach is Ashok Sir. So, with Ashok sir, when my recovery period was going on, I used to talk to him every day. Because we have to make our mentality strong, and our coach can give us so many positive things. So, I used to talk to him every day. I used to talk a lot about Kabaddi. I used to talk a lot about fitness to my trainers.
'It took me some time to get back to the mat. But I was feeling like I was on the mat. And I was doing my daily work. And I have to do this. Because hard work jab karega Aslam toh prepare ho jayega aage ki cheej ke liye. So, my coach supported me a lot. And my management supported me a lot.
'I started practice slowly, and after seven days, when I did my movement of raids, my coach came to me, and he put his hand on my back and said, 'I was afraid that I might lose Aslam's movement. But tu aaj us pace se aaya hai. So he put his hand on my back and said, once again, you will be the captain of this team. So, I was happy. It was a positive thing. It motivated me a lot. That I will be able to do something. So, I am still working on it."
Puneri Paltan last won the PKL title in 2023, and this season, according to Aslam, Puneri Paltan will show a different level of kabaddi after the addition of some new faces.
'I think every season, Puneri Paltan has shown a different level of Kabaddi. And this season, a lot of new players have joined our team. And I think in this season, you will get to see some new faces in the team as well. And they will be at a different level. Because we have worked on them properly for the last 2 years. And we have prepared them for Pro Kabaddi. I think they have also worked hard. Our new NYP (New Young Player) players are very good. And they will do well this season.
'All the other players have been with us for the last 3-4 years. So, the team will do well. And every player is prepared to do well this season. So, I think there is nothing much different in the team. So, that's it. I think all the players will do well this season. And I am fully prepared for this season. I won't be able to say what I can do and what I can't do. Because I have never said this about myself. So, just keep waiting on the mat. And when I come on the mat, you will know the result."
When asked about the possible challengers for the title this year, Aslam didn't pick anyone as a favourite and said all teams have managed to assemble a strong squad.
'I think all the 12 teams have been very good in season 12. So, all the teams are good. Kabaddi is a game with a lot of situations. Our game is very fast. Kabaddi is very fast now. So, we can't say which team is good, which team is bad, or which side is strong. But all the teams are good. I think in Tamil Thalaivas, three raiders—Pawan, Arjun, and Narendra—are good. Their defence is also young."
'Like my Puneri Paltan team. Obviously, my Puneri Paltan team has been doing well for 4 seasons. My team also has very good raiders. Mohit, Pankaj, Aditya, and Abhishek—he is a new guy. He will also do well. So, every team is good. We can't say because it was a very difficult auction; every team is stable. So, every team is good. We can't say which side is strong," he added.
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July 29, 2025, 19:34 IST
News sports 'Fully Prepared' Aslam Inamdar Aims To Make Memorable Comeback After Knee Injury
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