Category: Kabaddi

‘THE ORGANIZERS OF PRO KABADDI LEAGUE HAVE CONSTRUCTED A GREAT PLATFORM FOR KABADDI PLAYERS,’ SAYS SWAMI RAMDEV
by Abhishek Shukla

The Organizers Of Pro Kabaddi League Have Constructed A Great Platform For Kabaddi Players,’ Says Swami Ramdev

Ahmedabad, 03rd December 2023: Swami Ramdev graced the opening day of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 with his presence at the EKA Arena by TransStadia on Saturday. Swami Ramdev attended the first day of the tenth edition on behalf of Patanjali – Partner for the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10. 

Speaking about his tryst with kabaddi, Swami Ramdev said, “I have been playing kabaddi since I was five years old. I have grown up playing the game. I play kabaddi even now when I have the time. Today, kabaddi is the second biggest sport after cricket in India.” 

Swami Ramdev also lauded the organizers of the Pro Kabaddi League – Mashal Sports and Star Sports, “Kabaddi should be played more in schools and universities across India. We’ll have to grow the game even more. The organizers of the league have shown a lot of spirit while conducting PKL and have constructed a great platform for kabaddi players.” 

The Gujarat Giants defeated Telugu Titans 38-32 in the first match of PKL Season 10 on Saturday, meanwhile, U Mumba triumphed over U.P. Yoddhas 34-31 in the second match of the day.

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL SEASON 10: ALL-ROUND TEAM PERFORMANCE HELPS U MUMBA DEFEAT U.P. YODDHAS IN CLOSE CONTEST

Ahmedabad, 02nd December 2023: A compact and in-form U Mumbai turned on the style in their tournament opener, as they swatted away the challenge of the traditional powerhouse U.P. Yoddhas in Ahmedabad, on Saturday. Fine performances Amirmohammad Zafardanesh (11 points), Rinku and Guman Singh ensured that U Mumba would walk away with a 34-31 win.

The U Mumba side had the better of the early exchanges in the first half, keeping the dangerous raiding unit of the U.P. Yoddhas at arm’s length. Always quite efficient in attack, Pardeep had a slow start to his season and that was reflected on the scoreline. For U Mumba, Amirmohammad Zafardanesh was leading the charge with three successful raids early on, which put pressure on the opposition.

In the final 10 minutes of the first half, the well drilled U Mumba continued to tighten the screws on the U,P. Yoddhas, and began to pull away with the lead at 7 points at one point. Rinku had put in a few big tackles while Zafardanesh was getting significant raid points to his name. U.P. Yoddhas’ Pardeep failed to get a point his way in the first half, which ended with the U Mumba 5 points ahead.

The U.P. Yoddhas started off with a Super Tackle in the first half, however, it did not take too long for the U Mumba side to get back in their groove. Zafardanesh, Rinku and Guman Singh were on fire and looking to take the game away. But, the U.P. Yoddhas were also starting to claw their way back into the game and landed an ALL OUT on Zafardanesh, which brought them right back into the contest.

The contest was heading for a close finish, and with ten minutes to go, the U.P. Yoddhas were 4 points behind. Zafardanesh had registered his first Super 10 of the season while Surinder Gill was on the brink for the U.P. Yoddhas. The fans cheered on both teams, who were matching each other move for move. With 5 minutes to go, Surinder Gill failed to make a Do or Die raid count, and allowing U Mumba some breathing space, who surged into a 4-point lead. Eventually, the U.P. Yoddhas weren’t able to mount a comeback and U Mumba came away with a comfortable win.

The Dream11 Gamechanger of the Match: Amirmohammad Zafardanesh (U Mumba)

The ACC Moment of the Match: Rinku (U Mumba)

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL Season 10: SONU SCORES SUPER 10 AS GUJARAT GIANTS TRIUMPH

Ahmedabad, 02nd December 2023: The Gujarat Giants put up a scintillating performance to defeat Telugu Titans 38-32 in the opening match of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 at the EKA Arena by TransStadia on Saturday. Giants’ Raider Sonu scored 11 touch points and his compatriot Rakesh chipped in with 5 touch points in the match. Meanwhile, Telugu Titans’ Captain Pawan Sehrawat returned to the Pro Kabaddi League with a bang through a Super 10.

Rajnish effected a raid as the Telugu Titans took the lead at 4-3 in the opening minutes of the match. However, the Giants fought back and levelled the scores at 5-5 in the 7th minute. Moments later, Rakesh pulled off a magnificent raid as the Giants took the lead at 6-5. Rakesh tried to effect another raid, but the Titans tackled him and inched ahead at 8-6 in the 10th minute.

The Telugu Titans’ defence unit continued to carry out tackles and helped its team stay in the lead at 11-7 in the 14th minute. The Giants were reduced to just two defenders in the 15th minute, however, the Iranian duo of Fazel Atrachali and Mohammad Nabibakhsh tackled Pawan Sehrawat to help their team stay in the contest at 12-9. Moments later, the Giants tackled Sehrawat again and levelled the scores at 13-13. However, the Titans managed to clinch the lead at 16-13 by the end of the first half.

Giants’ Sonu pulled off a SUPER RAID in the opening minute of the second half as the home team reclaimed the lead at 18-16. The home side continued to showcase brilliant form as they effected an ALL OUT in the 23rd minute to take a big lead at 22-18. Sonu continued to pick up raid points for the Giants and helped his team stay in the lead at 26-19 in the 27th minute.

The Giants reduced the Titans to just one player on the mat in the 33rd minute, however, the away team’s Robin Chaudhary effected a raid to help his team stay in the contest. Moments later, Sehrawat effected a raid and helped his team inch closer to Giants’ score at 30-28. However, Gujarat’s Sourav Gulia tackled Robin Chaudhary to help his team inflict another ALL OUT in the 38th minute. The home side held on to their lead in the last couple of minutes and eventually walked off the mat as the winners of the match.

by Abhishek Shukla

PRO KABADDI LEAGUE CONTINUES TO DEVELOP TECHNICAL OFFICIALS; TRAINS 38 OFFICIALS AT REFEREE TRAINING CAMP FOR SEASON 10

Kolhapur, 30th November 2023: The Pro Kabaddi League hasn’t only focussed on developing a robust player pool through various initiatives such as Future Kabaddi Heroes but has also built a fantastic group of technical officials over the last nine years. Like the players look at the Pro Kabaddi League as an aspirational career, the technical officials have also been able to look upon the league as a suitable career option. 

Identifying the need for a high-level of refereeing for a world-class competition, the Technical Director of the Pro Kabaddi League Mr. E Prasad Rao explained how Mashal Sports created the PKL Referee Training Camps, “Prior to Season 1, we conducted a coaching course to help the technical officials get used to the innovative rule changes such as 30-second raids and do-or-die raids implemented in the Pro Kabaddi League. We selected around 30 officials among the persons who carried out the course. Over 100 people attended the workshop, which was conducted for about a week. This one was PKL’s first technical officials workshop.” 

Rao further expressed the changes in the training programs for referees over the course of the last nine seasons, “We are planning to appoint a total of 42 officials for Season 10, while we had a total of 35 officials in Season 1. The training program for technical officials has changed over the years with technological advancements in the game. We’ve had to learn how to use the multiple cameras available to us.” 

Continuing to build the technical officials group and identifying fresh talent, the Pro Kabaddi League organized a Referee Training Camp in Kolhapur ahead of the milestone tenth season, which is set to begin in December. The camp, which witnessed around 38 officials prepare for Season 10, was conducted by Mr. E Prasad Rao from 18-29 November 2023. 

Speaking about the officials’ preparations for the tenth season, Rao said, “We conducted three online workshops before the referee training camp in Kolhapur. The referees were put into two groups – new officials and PKL experienced officials. We identified about ten talented referees through these workshops. These referees will officiate in PKL for the first time this year.” 

When asked about the schedule in the training camp, the Technical Director expressed, “From 6:30-8:30 am, the officials underwent a physical activity to develop their speed, agility and reaction time. Between 10 am – 1 pm, the officials attended a theory session, where match situations were analysed. Then, the last session of the day was held between 5-7:30 pm wherein the officials underwent practical practice by officiating in games between club teams.”

The Telugu Titans go up against Gujarat Giants in the opening match of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 in Ahmedabad on 2nd December 2023. 

Season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar.

by Abhishek Shukla

U Mumba unveils PKL Season 10 Jersey in the presence of players and Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal

Mumbai, November 29, 2023 — In a glittering ceremony on Wednesday, U Mumba brought together the power of sport and entertainment on one stage to celebrate and unveil the landmark Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 U Mumba Jersey in the presence of Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal and the squad members at the META India studios in Mumbai.

U Mumba is geared up for an exhilarating season ahead. Designed with careful consideration and attention to details, the new jersey serves as a powerful statement of the team’s commitment to excellence, unity, and capturing the enduring spirit and resilience of Mumbai that U Mumba team stands for. 

The new jersey was launched in the presence of Vicky Kaushal in and as Sam Bahadur along with team owner, Ronnie Screwvala, CEO Suhail Chandhok apart from the Season 10 core team members Surinder Singh, Mahender Singh, Rinku, Girish Ernak, Guman Singh and Pranay Rane.

“Interwoven with elements that encapsulate the heart and soul of Mumbai city, the jersey captures the energy, diversity, hustle and indomitable spirit of the melting pot of people that Mumbai represents. Each thread tells a story, echoing the pulse of a city that never sleeps, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines U Mumba,” said Suhail Chandhok, CEO of U Mumba.

One of the key striking features of the jersey is the representation of the ocean, an homage to the original inhabitants of Mumbai, the Koli community and to the element of water that forms the essence of Mumbai, a City of Seven Islands.

“The waves symbolise the ebb and flow of obstacles that our players may encounter throughout the Pro Kabaddi League season and it serves as a reminder to be fluid, like water, adaptable to change, agile, resilient and open to any challenges that lie ahead,” Suhail further added.

U Mumba Captain & Vice-Captains announced

The team also took the opportunity to announce the Captain and Vice-Captains for the upcoming season with Surinder Singh set to continue at the helm and Rinku Sharma and Mahender Singh as his deputies.

Paras Sharma, Director of Content and Community Partnerships, Meta, India, also commented, “We actively foster sports fandom on our platforms, continuously collaborating with teams and the ecosystem to broaden their audience. Collaborating with the U Mumba team enables us to connect creators and public figures, aiming to boost kabaddi’s popularity ahead of the Pro-Kabaddi League and offer creators opportunities to engage with athletes from varied sports.”

The team also announced local (Mumbai) icon player, Girish Ernak as the Spirit of Mumba Captain, who is specially assigned the task to nurture young talents in the side from various parts of the country and ensure the positive spirit of U Mumba is always intact through the ups and downs of the competitive season.

Follow U Mumba’s journey in the Pro Kabaddi League and witness the team wearing their hearts on their sleeves, quite literally, with the unveiling of this exceptional new jersey on our social media handles.

by Abhishek Shukla

‘PKL SEASON 10 IS A PROUD MOMENT FOR THE KABADDI FRATERNITY,’ SAYS SEASON 6 MVP PAWAN SEHRAWAT

Hyderabad, 29th November 2023: The Pro Kabaddi League is all geared up to launch its tenth season on 2nd December 2023 and the fans cannot keep calm. Telugu Titans’ Pawan Sehrawat, who broke his own record for the highest bid at the PKL Auction earlier this year, spoke about his excitement ahead of the milestone season, “I am very excited to play in the tenth season. I have not played in the league for a while. My preparations are going well in the Telugu Titans camp and I am looking forward to the season.”

Reminiscing his own journey in the Pro Kabaddi League, one of the biggest kabaddi stars expressed about his first-ever PKL game in Season 3, “I played my first-ever match against Dabang Delhi K.C. in Season 3 and I remember that I scored a bonus point on my first raid.”

Following his debut in Season 3, Sehrawat has gone on to record the highest raid points in the sixth, seventh and eighth seasons and also clinch the Most Valuable Player Award after recording 271 raid points in Season 6. Speaking about the fantastic season, the Hi-Flyer said, “I had not played for a long time before the sixth season. But nevertheless, I experienced the best moment of my Pro Kabaddi League career in the that season when I scored 20 points in the first half against Tamil Thalaivas while playing for Bengaluru Bulls.”

When asked about the growth of the Pro Kabaddi League, the star raider said, “Starting the tenth season is quite a big achievement for Mashal Sports and Star Sports. This is a proud moment for me as well to see kabaddi grow so much. The highest bid in PKL Season 1 Auction was INR 12.8 lakh and the highest bid for Season 10 was INR 2.6 crore – which shows how much the league has grown.”

Pawan Sehrawat will be in action in the opening game of Season 10 when the Telugu Titans go up against Gujarat Giants in Ahmedabad on 2nd December 2023.

by Abhishek Shukla

I USED TO PLAY KABADDI IN MY COLONY,’ SAYS FORMER INDIA CRICKETER RAVI SHASTRI

Mumbai, 24th November 2023: The kabaddi fever is in the air as the milestone PKL Season 10 is all set to begin in Ahmedabad on 2nd December 2023. The superstars are ready to enthral the kabaddi lovers in each of the franchise’s home cities this edition.

Ahead of the special season, former Indian cricketers Ravi Shastri and Sanjay Manjrekar reminisced about their own experience of playing and watching the game of kabaddi in Mumbai. “I used to play kabaddi in my colony. It was a lot of fun to play the game because we used to play in the evening. Everyone from the colony used to come together to play. And a group of 50 people used to watch our games,” said Shastri.

Shastri also expressed about the fitness level required for the sport, “A good fitness level is very important for kabaddi. Core strength and lower body are very important.”

Meanwhile, Manjrekar spoke about the night kabaddi culture in Mumbai, “A very competitive night kabaddi used to take place and a lot of people used to go and watch the games in Mumbai. I also used to go and watch the games along with the huge crowd.”

Manjrekar added that he found facing fast bowlers easier than playing kabaddi, “This is a contact sport. I found it easier to wear a helmet and face fast bowling than playing kabaddi. One requires flexibility, strength and smartness for this sport.”

The league is thrilled to welcome the kabaddi fans from each of the franchise’s home cities back to the stadium this season. The Ahmedabad leg will be held from 2-7 December 2023. Thereafter, the league will move in the following order of venues – Bengaluru (8-13 December 2023), Pune (15-20 December 2023), Chennai (22-27 December 2023), Noida (29 December 2023 – 3 January 2024), Mumbai (5-10 January 2024), Jaipur (12-17 January 2024), Hyderabad (19-24 January 2024), Patna (26-31 January 2024), Delhi (2-7 February 2024), Kolkata (9-14 February 2024) and Panchkula (16-21 February).

by Abhishek Shukla

Fazel Atrachali Named Captain of Gujarat Giants

New Delhi, 23rd November, 2023: One of India’s most loved sports, Kabaddi, will be back soon with the 10th season of the Pro Kabaddi League, which begins in the city of Ahmedabad. And ahead of the big day, Ahmedabad and Gujarat’s very own team, the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants, have announced Fazel Atrachali as the captain for the side while Rohit Gulia is the vice-captain. The team is coached by the astute tactician and experienced coach Ram Mehar Singh.

The Gujarat Giants have been finalists twice, in 2017 and 2018, and will be keen to join an elite group of teams by bagging the prestigious PKL title. Co-incidentally, in the 2017 campaign, Fazel was part of the Giants squad that reached the final. The 31-year-old defender has been a two-time winner of the PKL and a three-time Asian Games medallist, and will look to use all his experience at the highest level to lead the charge for the Giants.

“In the PKL season 10, among all the players, Fazel is one of the most decorated players and he has won a lot medals in his career. I have worked with Fazel before, and he is great player, and in our mind, he was our clear choice for the captaincy for Adani’s Gujarat Giants,” said Ram Mehar Singh, Coach, Gujarat Giants.

With the likes of Rakesh and Parteek Dahiya showing plenty of promise, and the return of Fazel, the Gujarat Giants have a fair amount of talent in their ranks. Along with them, there are also the likes of Rohit and Sourav Gulia, Vikash Jaglan, Arkam Shaikh, GB More and the Iranian all-rounder Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh. With such great talent and experience at their disposal, the Gujarat Giants will aim for a solid start to the season.

Head coach Ram Mehar Singh said that the team, which had been based out of the New Delhi, had been doing everything possible to ensure they peak at the right time and are in form.

“Gujarat Giants is a very big team and it is my pleasure to be back in the team. I am delighted to be leading the team and, in the squad, we have a lot of youngsters. I know we all work well together and as a captain that makes my job easier. And I am happy about how things are shaping up,” said Fazel Atrachali.

The Gujarat Giants will begin their season with a game against Telegu Titans on 2nd December, which is the opening day of the tournament. All the games in Ahmedabad will be played at The TransStadia. The 10th season of the Pro Kabaddi League also marks a return to the caravan format after three years.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengal Warriors Name Maninder Singh as Captain for Season 10 of PKL

Kolkata, 22nd November, 2023: The much-awaited 10th season of the Pro Kabaddi League is around the corner, and former champions Bengal Warriors are keen to make it a sensational one. With that in mind, the Bengal Warriors have named the ace raider Maninder Singh as their captain for the upcoming season, which begins on 2nd December, in Ahmedabad.

Maninder, who has been with the Bengal Warriors since 2017, had captained the team to their maiden Pro Kabaddi League title in 2019. Ahead of Season 10 of the PKL, Bengal Warriors reacquired Maninder via the Final Bid Match option at the Player Auction for INR 2.12 Crores, which made him the third highest player in the league.

The 33-year-old raider has been one of the most impressive players for the Bengal Warriors, who will be hoping that the PKL returning to the caravan will help boost their performances. Earlier, in Season 9, Maninder became the second most prolific raider in the history of the PKL, as he went past the 1000-point mark in the Warriors’ opening game against the Haryana Steelers.

“I couldn’t have been happier that Bengal Warriors have got me back in the set-up. I am honoured to be back with this team and being named as the captain as well. This is a big responsibility, one which I intend to fulfil with all my might. This is a special season and I cannot wait to be back on the mat and in front our fans. This year we have new owners and management in Capri Sports, and they have been very supportive from the start,” said Maninder Singh.

Maninder is one of the best raiders PKL has seen, and he is a delight to work with. He has been a key player for Bengal Warriors in the past, and he will surely play a critical role this year as well, both as a captain and as a raider as we aspire to lift the trophy for the 2nd time. The younger players can learn a lot from him and his experience will surely help the team during the course of the tournament,” said coach K. Baskaran.

The Bengal Warriors will open their campaign for the 10th season of the PKL against the Bengaluru Bulls on 4th December in Ahmedabad at The Arena by TransStadia. The PKL travels to Bengal in February with the team Gujarat Giants (9 February), Telugu Titans (10 February), U Mumba (12 February) and Puneri Paltan (14 February).

“Maninder Singh is one of the strongest Kabaddi players in the country, and we could not be happier about the fact that he will be the captain of the Bengal Warriors. His leadership qualities are unapparelled and we are confident that he will lead by example,” said Apurv Gupta, Senior Vice-President, Contact Sports. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Haryana Steelers take on Dabang Delhi K.C at Mumbai

Mumbai, 27 July 2019: The Haryana Steelers will be looking to continue their good form when they face Dabang Delhi K.C in their second match of Pro Kabaddi League season 7 in Mumbai on Sunday, 28 July 2019. Naveen, who scored 14 total points, helped Haryana get off to a great start in the tournament with a 34-24 victory over Puneri Paltan in Hyderabad on Monday. 
Haryana Captain Dharmaraj Cheralathan said that an excellent start to the competition makes a big difference to the team’s campaign.
“A good start makes a big difference to the team. Our key players (Vikash Kandola and Prashanth Kumar Rai) were rested for the first match, and if they return to  the team, we will play even better in the upcoming matches,” said Cheralathan.
The Haryana Steelers got the better of Dabang Delhi K.C two out of three times in the last season. Haryana won the first and third Zone A matches against Delhi with scores of 34-31 and 34-27 respectively. The Cheralathan-led team will be hoping to hold the upper hand against Dabang Delhi K.C in this season as well.
However, the Steelers will have to be wary of Meraj Sheykh. The Iranian is one of the best all-rounder in the Pro Kabaddi League and he could pose a serious threat for the Haryana team. The Steelers defense was in top form against Puneri Paltan and they will need to maintain their performance when they face the quick Chandran Ranjit from the Delhi team.
Cheralathan expressed that the Haryana Steelers have their strategies in place for Dabang Delhi K.C.

“All players are good in Dabang Delhi, they have played two matches and won both, but we have our strategies in place to play against them,” said Cheralathan.

by Abhishek Shukla

Naveen shines as Haryana Steelers beat Puneri Paltan 34-24

Hyderabad, 22 July 2019: The Haryana Steelers got their campaign off to a great start with a 34-24 victory over Puneri Paltan at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday, 22 July. Naveen was the star of the match for Haryana with 14 total points in the match.
The match began with a tough competition between the sides. Manjeet effected a raid point and Amit Kumar pulled off a tackle point to help Puneri Paltan take the lead before Naveen pulled things back for Haryana with two successful raids. The Haryana Steelers took a big lead at 11-7 after Naveen carried out an all out by removing Paltan’s Jadhav Shahaji and Surjeet Singh during a single raid. Selvamani K widened the gap between Haryana and Puneri by pulling off a fantastic super raid. 

The Haryana Steelers dominated the scoreline when Puneri Paltan were all out once again in the first half. Paltan’s Amit Kumar missed out on a do-or-die raid as the Haryana Steelers led 22-10 at the end of the first half.
Naveen continued his form and got Haryana off to a great start in the second half with two successful raids. Pawan Kadian carried out a few raids for Puneri Paltan, but the Haryana Steelers kept extending their lead with some smart moves. The Haryana defense performed exceedingly well throughout the match to keep the Puneri Paltan players from scoring raid points. Naveen effected another raid in the 43rd minute and picked up a Super 10 in the match.
Kadian scored a few raid points in the dying minutes of the match and recorded a Super 10, but the Haryana Steelers managed to maintain their lead. Manjeet pulled off a super tackle in the final minute as the Haryana Steelers clinched their first victory of the season. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru Bulls crowned champions, beat Gujarat Fortunegiants 38-33 in the final

Pawan Sehrawat produced a raiding masterclass to lead Bengaluru Bulls to their maiden title as they were crowned champions of Vivo Pro Kabaddi League season 6. Sehrawat scored 22 raid points as Bengaluru Bulls beat Gujarat Fortunegiants 38-33 in a thrilling final in front of a packed house in Mumbai. Sehrawat singlehandedly led Bulls to the title as he turned the match around in the second half with a  terrific performance. Gujarat Fortunegiants were in the match till the last five minutes and fought really hard but couldn’t contain Sehrawat. Sachin got a super 10 for Gujarat Fortunegiants but just fell short to lead his team to the title.

https://youtu.be/h79P5Mq2F6g

Bengaluru Bulls got off the mark with a tackle point as they sent Gujarat’s danger man Sachin to the bench. Prapanjan made a successful raid to give Gujarat Fortunegiants their first point. Pawan Sehrawat got his point as he secured a bonus as Bengaluru Bulls tied the match at 2-2 after four minutes. It took more than six minutes for Gujarat’s famed defence to get their first tackle point.

The first half was closely contested as after 10 minutes both teams were level at 6-6. Gujarat Fortunegiants burst into life in the last five minutes as they reduced Bengaluru Bulls to lead 10-7. In the 19th minute Prapanjan made a two-point raid to inflict an all out and give 15-9 lead. At the end of the first half, Gujarat Fortunegiants led 16-9.

Bengaluru Bulls’ defence started the second half strongly as they picked up a couple of tackle points. Gujarat though kept their noses in front till the 27th minute as they maintained a six-point lead. Pawan Sehrawat then turned the match on its head with a slew of successful raids. He picked up a couple of two-point raids including one in the 31st minute that led to Bengaluru Bulls inflicting an all out and taking 23-22 lead.

Rohit Gulua produced a super raid for Gujarat Fortunegiants in the 36th minute as they led 27-25. Pawan Sehrawat picked a couple of more points and Mahendra put in a strong tackle as Bengaluru Bulls leveled the match at 29-29 in the 37th minute. In the 39th minute Pawan Sehrawat made a two-point raid as Bengaluru Bulls inflicted a critical all out to lead 36-29.  Gujarat Fortunegiants picked up a few raid points as they trailed 32-37 in the last minute. Sehrawat produced another two-point raid as Bengaluru inflicted another all out in the 39th minute as they were crowned champions for the first time.

 

Match Awards –

  • THE VIVO PERFECT RAIDER OF THE MATCH –  PAWAN KUMAR SHERAWAT (JERSEY 17) BENGALURU BULLS
  • THE TATA ACE DEFENDEDR OF THE MATCH – SUNIL KUMAR (JERSEY 11) GUJARAT FORTUNEGIANTS
  • THE STAR SPORTS MOMENT OF THE MATCH – PAWAN KUMAR SHERAWAT (JERSEY 17) BENGALURU BULLS
  • BAJAJ ELECTRICALS TOP SCORER OF THE MATCH – PAWAN KUMAR SHERAWAT (JERSEY 17) BENGALURU BULLS
  • GILLETTE MACH 3 TOTAL CONTROL PLAYER OF THE FINAL – SUMIT (JERSEY 99) BENGALURU BULLS
  • HONDA X BLADE STYLISH PLAYER OF THE MATCH – PAWAN KUMAR SHERAWAT (JERSEY 17) BENGALURU BULLS
  • HDFC LIFE WINNING CAPTAIN OF THE MATCH – ROHIT KUMAR (JERSEY 9) BENGALURU BULLS

 

WINNERS AND RUNNERS UP

 

NO.

 

  

AWARD

  

Prize Money

 

  

WINNER TEAM
 

 

1

  

 

WINNERS

 

 

  

 

Rs.3 crore

  

 

BENGALURU BULLS
 

 

2

  

 

RUNNERS UP

 

 

  

 

Rs.1.8 crore

  

 

GUJARAT FORTUNEGIANTS

TOURNAMENT AWARDS – PLAYERS

 

NO.

 

  

AWARD

  

PRIZE MONEY

  

WINNER NAME
 

 

1

 

  

 

THE MASHAL SPORTS DEBUTANT OF SEASON V

 

  

 

Rs.8,00,000

+

Trophy

 

  

 

SIDDHARTH SIRISH DESAI (UMUMBA)
 

 

2

  

 

RAIDER OF THE TOURNAMENT

 

 

  

 

Rs.10,00,000

+

Trophy

  

 

PARDEEP NARWAL (PATNA PIRATES)
 

 

3

 

  

 

TATA ACE DEFENDER OF THE TOURNAMENT

 

 

  

 

Rs.10,00,000

+

Trophy

  

 

NITESH KUMAR (U.P.YODDHA)
 

 

4

  

 

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

  

 

Rs.15,00,000

+

Trophy

 

  

 

PAWAN KUMAR SHERAWAT (BENGALURU BULLS)

 

 

by Abhishek Shukla

UP Yoddha thrash Dabang Delhi 45-33 in third eliminator

In a one-sided encounter, UP Yoddha hammered Dabang Delhi 45-33in eliminator 3 of Vivo Pro Kabaddi League season 6. Prashant Kumar Rai was the star of the show as he scored 13 raid points and got able support from Rishank Devadiga who chipped in with 8 points. For Dabang Delhi, it was a disappointing night as their defence couldn’t muster enough points. Naveen Kumar top scored for Delhi but couldn’t save his team from crashing out of the competition. UP Yoddha will now play Gujarat Fortunegiants on Thursday to determine who will play Bengaluru Bulls in the final.

UP Yoddha got off to a flying start when Prashanth Kumar Rai made a super raid in the second minute. Dabang Delhi were reeling under the shock as they suffered an all out as earl as the third minute. UP Yoddha led 11-1 after three minutes and it looked like Dabang Delhi won’t recover from the early onslaught.

Chandran Ranjit made a two-point raid in the 7th minute as Dabang Delhi trailed 6-13 but UP Yoddha enjoyed the upper hand as after 10 minutes they led 17-8 . In the 14th minute UP Yoddha further asserted their supremacy as they inflicted another all out to lead 25-10. At the end of the first half, UP Yoddha led 27-13 and it looked like game over for Dabang Delhi.

Dabang Delhi tried to make a comeback in the second half and inflicted an all out in the 24th minute to trail 21-31. But Prashant Kumar Rai extinguished all their hopes of a comeback with a super raid in the 27th minute as UP Yoddha led 36-22. Another all out was inflicted in the second half as UP Yoddha were in complete command of the match.

The last few minutes were all about Dabang Delhi bringing some respectability to the score line. Naveen Kumar got a super 10 for the losing side but his effort went in vain as Delhi crashed out of the tournament.

Fans can catch live action of Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 6 matches in the second qualifier on Thursday i.e. 3rdJanuary 2019, 7:30 pm onwards, on Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 HD Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Suvarna Plus, Star Maa Gold, Star Sports First and Hotstar.

Match Awards –

  • THE VIVO PERFECT RAIDER OF THE MATCH –  PRASHANTH KUMAR RAO, JERSEY 4, UP YODDHA
  • THE TATA ACE DEFENDEDR OF THE MATCH – NITESH KUMAR, JERSEY 2, UP YODDHA
  • THE MOMENT OF THE MATCH – PRASHANTH KUMAR RAO, JERSEY 4, UP YODDHA
  • HDFC LIFE WINNING CAPTAIN OF THE MATCH – RISHANK DEVADIGA, JERSEY 7, UP YODDHA
by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru Bulls thrash Gujarat Fortunegiants 41-29, enter the final

Bengaluru Bulls produced a solid second half performance as they thrashed Gujarat Fortunegiants 41-29 in the first qualifier of Vivo Pro Kabaddi League Season 6 to seal a spot in the final. Pawan Sehrawat continued his fine run of form and top scored for the Bengaluru Bulls with 13 raid points. Captain Rohit Kumar had an outstanding all-round game and scored 11 points for Bengaluru Bulls Sachin got yet another super 10 for Gujarat Fortunegiants and was ably supported by Prapanjan who scored 5raid points. While Bengaluru Bulls have qualified for the final, Gujarat still have a chance to make it when they play in the second qualifier against the winner between UP Yoddha and Dabang Delhi.

Pawan Sehrawat opened Bengaluru Bulls’ account with a running hand touch in the second minute while Sachin got a two-point raid for Gujarat Fortunegiants. It was Sachin who kept the Fortunegiants in the initial period of the match by picking bonus and raid points.

After seven minutes of play both teams were level on 7 points apiece as Prapanjan made a successful raid for Gujarat Fortunegiants.  Gujarat’s famed defence was having a quiet first half and took 11 minutes to score their first tackle point.

It was an extremely cagey affair with both teams playing with a bit of caution. Bengaluru Bulls were reduced to just three men when substitute Sumit Singh made a crucial do-or-die raid. At the end of the first half, Gujarat Fortunegiants held a slender one-point advantage to lead 14-13.

The first part of the second half was a close affair yet again with the biggest surprise being Parvesh Bhainswal and Sunil Kumar struggling to get a tackle point. Gujarat Fortunegiants inflicted an all out in the 33rd minute to lead 26-20.

Pawan Sehrawat came up with a terrific super raid as he picked up three points to bring Bengaluru Bulls back in the game. Sehrawat followed it up with another super raid as Bengaluru Bulls inflicted an all out to lead 29-26.

With less than four minutes to go Bengaluru Bulls led 32-26 and looked in control of the match. Bengaluru Bulls inflicted an all out in the 39th minute to ensure Bengaluru Bulls’ victory and a place in the final of the season 6.

Fans can catch live action of Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 6 matches in the second qualifier on Thursday i.e. 3rdJanuary 2019, 7:30 pm onwards, on Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 HD Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Suvarna Plus, Star Maa Gold, Star Sports First and Hotstar.

Match Awards –

  • THE VIVO PERFECT RAIDER OF THE MATCH –  PAWAN SEHRAWAT, JERSEY 17, BENGALURU BULLS
  • THE TATA ACE DEFENDEDR OF THE MATCH – ROHIT KUMAR, JERSEY 9, BENGALURU BULLS
  • THE MOMENT OF THE MATCH – PAWAN SEHRAWAT, JERSEY 17, BENGALURU BULLS
  • HDFC LIFE WINNING CAPTAIN OF THE MATCH – ROHIT KUMAR, JERSEY 9, BENGALURU BULLS
by Abhishek Shukla

PKL: Dabang Delhi staged second-half comeback to eliminate Bengal Warriors

Dabang Delhi came up with a strong second half performance to beat Bengal Warriors 39-28 in the second eliminator of Vivo Pro Kabaddi League season 6.  Naveen Kumar and Chandran Ranjit led from the front as they combined to score 19 raid points. In defence, Ravinder Pahal scored four tackle points. It was a slow performance in second half by Bengal Warriors which led to their downfall. Maninder Singh top scored with 8 points but just didn’t get enough support from other raiders.

Chandran Ranjit opened Dabang Delhi’s account in the second minute with a successful raid. Maninder Singh picked up a couple of raid points as after two minutes Bengal Warriors leveled the match at 2-2. Bengal Warriors inflicted an all out in the 9th minute to lead 7-4. Bengal Warriors held the edge in the first half with Maninder Singh picking up raid points at regular intervals.

In the 15th minute Maninder made a two-point raid to give Bengal 12-8 lead but Chandran Ranjit replied with a  two-point raid of his own as Dabang Delhi trailed 10-12. Dabang Delhi forced a super tackle in the 16th minute to level the match at 12-12. Bengal Warriors came back strongly to inflict an all out in the 19th minute as they led 17-12. At the end of the first half, Bengal Warriors led 18-12.

Dabang Delhi made a strong start to the second half as they picked three raid points in the 21st minute to trail 15-18. Bengal Warriors were in the lead for the first part of the second half as after 25 minutes they led 20-19. Naveen Kumar made a brilliant raid in the 28th minute to give Dabang Delhi 24-20 lead. In the 32nd minute Dabang Delhi inflicted an all out to lead 33-23.

Fans can catch live action of Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 6 matches when Gujarat Fortunegiants play Bengaluru Bulls while UP Yoddha take on Dabang Delhi on Monday i.e. 31st December 2018, 7:30 pm onwards, on Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 HD Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Suvarna Plus, Star Maa Gold, Star Sports First and Hotstar.

Match Awards –

  • THE VIVO PERFECT RAIDER OF THE MATCH –  NAVEEN KUMAR, JERSEY 19, DABANG DELHI KC
  • THE TATA ACE DEFENDEDR OF THE MATCH – RAVINDER PAHAL, JERSEY 6, DABANG DELHI KC
  • THE MOMENT OF THE MATCH – NAVEEN KUMAR, JERSEY 19, DABANG DELHI KC
  • HDFC LIFE WINNING CAPTAIN – JOGINDER SINGH NARWAL, JERSEY 8, DABANG DELHI KC
by Abhishek Shukla

PKL: UP Yoddha stuns U Mumba in first Elimination match

UP Yoddha produced a terrific all-round performance to knock out favourites U Mumba in the first eliminator of Vivo Pro Kabaddi League season 6. Yoddha won 34-29 and were in control for most of the match. In front of a packed crowd in Kochi, where PKL made its debut, it was the team from UP that came out on top. Nitesh Kumar came up with one of the best defensive performances and scored 8 points to lead UP to victory. UP Yoddha’s defence scored 18 tackle points on a night where they tamed U Mumba’s star raider Siddharth Desai. Desai scored just seven raid points but all credit to the Yoddha to contain him. Shrikant Jadhav and Prashant Kumar Rai combined to score 9 crucial raid points in UP’s win. 

Both teams made a solid start and were on equal footing for the first five minutes. Shrikant Jadhav and Siddharth Desai picked up the raid points for their teams. It was 5-5 after five minutes but UP Yoddha switched gears then. In the 8th minute they inflicted an all out to leads 11-7. U Mumba were missing the spark and were a bit lacklustre in the first half. At the end of the first half Yoddha’s led 18-15 and it was anyone’s game.

UP Yoddha continued their fine form in the second half as well. Their defence did a fine job on Desai and Rohit Balliyan. Shrikant Jadhav picked up a two-point raid in the 27th minute to give UP Yoddha 25-18 lead. The second half followed the same pattern as the first with UP defence in solid form. Jeeva Kumar and Nitesh Kumar didn’t allow too many points and made crucial tackles throughout the match. Roshan Devadiga and Prashant Kumar Rai picked up raid points at crucial intervals. 

Fans can catch live action of Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 6 matches when the playoffs get underway on Monday i.e. 31st December 2018, 7:30 pm onwards, on Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 HD Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Suvarna Plus, Star Maa Gold, Star Sports First and Hotstar.

Match Awards –

  • THE VIVO PERFECT RAIDER OF THE MATCH –  Siddharth Sirish Desai, Jersey 8, U Mumba
  • THE TATA ACE DEFENDEDR OF THE MATCH – Nitesh Kumar, Jersey 2, UP Yoddha
  • THE MOMENT OF THE MATCH – Jeeva Kumar, Jersey 6, UP Yoddha
  • HDFC LIFE WINNING CAPTAIN – Rishank Devadiga, Jersey 7, UP Yoddha
by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 2018: U Mumba beat Haryana Steelers 42-32

U Mumba kept their unbeaten streak in Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season VI going as they beat Haryana Steelers 42-32. Siddharth Desai scored 14 points for U Mumba to lead them to another victory. Desai also became the fastest player to score 50 points in the history of Pro Kabaddi League.  Rohit Baliyan also chipped in with seven points for U Mumba. Monu Goyat finally found some form for Haryana Steelers and got a super 10 but it was a little too late. This was Haryana Steelers’ fourth consecutive defeat of the season.

U Mumba are now top of the table in Zone A whereas Haryana Steelers remain in the fifth spot

This was a match where Haryana Steelers desperately needed a win and they started on a bright note. Monu Goyat looked in good touch as he got a couple of raid points to keep Haryana Steelers neck-to-neck with U Mumba. For the first 15 minutes of the match, Haryana Steelers were in contention to break their losing streak.

https://youtu.be/A5IduSFkeq4

In the 16th minute, Siddharth Desai came up with a brilliant super raid and got 6 points (4 touch + 2 for all out) as U Mumba led 19-13. Desai was in outstanding raiding form for U Mumba and got a super 10 in the first half itself. At the end of the first half, U Mumba led 24-13. Haryana’s defence struggled to get going in the first half and scored just one tackle point.Haryana’s defence woke up in the second half as they scored three tackle points in five minutes and reduced U Mumba to just three men. After 26 minutes, U Mumba led 25-18 and were still in control of the match.

U Mumba forced a super tackle in the 29th minute to lead 28-19. Haryana Steelers responded with a couple of super tackles of their own to cut down the lead.

With less than five minutes to go, U Mumba led 33-27 when Siddharth Desai came up with a two-point raid to kill all hopes of Haryana’s comeback. U Mumba inflicted another all out in the 39th minute to extend their lead to 40-29. Monu Goyat came up with a super raid in the dying seconds of the match as they reduced the deficit to nine points

In tomorrow’s matches, Haryana Steelers will take on Dabang Delhi KC whereas Gujarat Fortunegiants will face Puneri Paltan.

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL 2018: Bengaluru Bulls crush Tamil Thalaivas 44-35

Bengaluru Bulls earned the bragging rights in the Southern derby as they beat Tamil Thalaivas 44-35 in Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season VI. Pawan Sehrawat with 16 points and Kashiling Adake (12 points) were the star performers for Bengaluru as they registered their second consecutive win of the tournament. This was Tamil Thalaivas’ fifth straight defeat and they haven’t won a match since the opening day of the season. Ajay Thakur was once again tried to salvage the match for Thalaivas but couldn’t get enough support.

Kashiling Adake started the match with a bang as he came up with a super raid in the 2nd minute to give Bengaluru Bulls 4-1 lead. Ajay Thakur got his first point of the match in the fourth minute as Tamil Thalaivas trailed 2-4. Kashiling Adake made another successful raid as Bengaluru Bulls inflicted an all out to lead 9-2.

https://youtu.be/OjKgvYXk2rc

Tamil Thalaivas were clearly struggling a much fitter outfit in Bengaluru Bulls as they didn’t have answer to their raiding prowess. In the sixth minute Pawan Sehrawat came up with a four-point raid to give Bengaluru Bulls 14-3 lead.

Tamil Thalaivas defence had a half to forget as they scored just two tackle points. At the end of the first half Bengaluru Bulls led 25-14 with Kashiling Adake scoring 10 points.

Tamil Thalaivas began the second half strongly as they inflicted an all out in the 24th minute to cut the deficit to 21-29. Tamil Thalaivas tried hard to make a comeback but Bengaluru Bulls’ defence was on top of their game. With their lead cut to just six points, they made to crucial tackles to lead 33-24 in the 30th minute.

Tamil Thalaivas suffered a big blow in the second half when their skipper Ajay Thakur was stretchered off the mat as he suffered an injury. With less than five minutes left, Bengaluru Bulls had opened an 11-point gap and were on course to a comfortable victory.

Tamil Thalaivas forced a super tackle in the 37th minute as they trailed 31-41. Another super tackle was forced by Thalaivas as they trailed 34-43 in the 39th minute. The Thalaivas defence’s poor first half showing was one of the main reason why the suffered another defeat.

In tomorrow’s matches, Haryana Steelers will take on Dabang Delhi KC whereas Gujarat Fortunegiants will face Puneri Paltan.

by Abhishek Shukla

PKL Season 6: Haryana Steelers defeated Gujarat in the first match at home

Haryana Steelers began their home leg of Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season VI as they beat Gujarat Fortunegiants 32-25. Steelers’ star raider Monu Goyat scored seven points and was ably supported by Kuldeep Singh who chipped in with seven points as well. For Gujarat, Sachin and Prapanjan combined to score 17 points. It was an all round effort from Haryana which propelled them to win the match.

Haryana Steelers were the better team in the first half as they scored raid points at will. With Monu and Kuldeep inflicting bulk of damage on Gujarat. Just before the end of the first half, Haryana Steelers inflicted an all out and led 20-13 at the break.

The fittest player of the match was Kuldeep Singh who looked sharper than all other raiders on the mat.

In the crowd was Olympic Games bronze medalist Yogeshwar Dutt who is also the brand ambassador for Haryana to cheer them on. In front of raucous home crowd, Steelers continued to pile on the pressure on Gujarat Fortunegiants.

Sunil Kumar at the back for Gujarat was a rock and scored five tackle points. In the second half it was once again Haryana Steelers who dominated the proceedings.

The bravest moment of the match came from Prapanjan who scored back to back raids to get Gujarat back in the game.

However it wasn’t enough as Haryana Steelers maintained their composure to win the match 32-25.

In tomorrow’s matches Telugu Titans will play UP Yoddha while Haryana Steelers face U Mumba.

by Abhishek Shukla

Akshay Kumar partners with Future Group’s kabaddi franchise Bengal Warriors

Bengal Warriors, the Kolkata based kabaddi franchise powered by Future Group announces a partnership with Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar. The Padma Shri and National Film Award winning actor is also extremely popular for fitness regimen and his love for sports. With the new partnership with Akshay Kumar, Bengal Warriors will bring in a breath of fresh air and positivity packed with a stronger team.

Speaking about partnering with Akshay Kumar, Sandip Tarkas, CEO, Bengal Warriors says, “There couldn’t be a better partner than Akshay Kumar who apart from being a versatile actor is also known for his extreme fitness routines. This ownership will certainly boost the morale and energy of the team which will help all the players put their best foot forward. With few hours left for the league to commence, I would like to wish all the teams the very best. Fingers crossed, may the best team win.”

Commenting about the association, Akshay Kumar says, “I have always believed that sport plays a key role in shaping ones personality and health. I have admired how Star Sports has helped make kabaddi so popular across the length and breadth of India and I am delighted to partner with Future Group to promote a homegrown sport like Kabaddi.”

Bengal Warriors’ revamped team features strong raiders like Jang-Kun Lee, Deepak Narwal, Anil Kumar, Kuldeep, Maninder Singh, Virender Wazir Singh, Vinod Kumar, defenders Ameares Mondal, Sandeep Malik, Surjeet, Young Chang Ko, Rahul Kumar, Shashank Wankhede and all-rounders Bhupender Singh, Ran Singh, Ravindra Ramesh Kumawat, Srikanth Tewthia and Vikash.

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Patna Pirates crowned Season 4 Champions of Pro Kabaddi League

PKL Press Release

Hyderabad: Season 4 of Pro Kabaddi League ended on a high note at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium with reigning champions Patna Pirates recording a 37-29 victory over the formidable Jaipur Pink Panthers in the finale. It was a closely contested 40 minutes of perhaps the finest kabaddi game of the season, as both teams battled for supremacy. Dharmaraj Cheralathan captain of the Patna Pirates, hoisted up the golden trophy amidst spectacular scenes of celebration.

It was Patna’s aggression versus Jaipur’s tactics and in the end, it was Patna Pirates who stamped their authority and emerged as champions of the League, claiming their second trophy.

Patna Pirates’ Pardeep Narwal scored 17 points and was awarded Best Raider while the champions’ Hodi Oshtorak was awarded the Best Defender of the Match respectively. Telugu Titans’ Rahul Chaudhari finished a dream season as the most successful raider with 146 points.

Earlier in the evening, Puneri Paltan beat Telugu Titans in the battle for the third place, with raider Deepak Niwas Hooda scoring 17 points for Puneri Paltan.

As for the exciting final, both teams began strongly but it was Jaipur who struck the first blow as they packed off Pardeep Narwal to the bench in the fourth minute with the score at 2-2. Jaipur Pink Panthers then got three points with a super raid by Rajesh Narwal to lead 6-2 after five minutes. An all out looked imminent but Patna Pirates forced a super tackle in the seventh minute as they trailed 5-6. Pardeep Narwal got into his act as he scored with a raid and bonus to give Patna Pirates 7-6 lead. Pardeep Narwal got another raid point as Patna Pirates led 9-6 after 10 minutes.

Jaipur Pink Panthers were unable to control Pardeep Narwal as he scored with a two-point raid to as they trailed 9-11 after 13 minutes. Patna Pirates inflicted an all out in the 15th minute to lead 16-11. Jasvir Singh got four points in the space of two minutes as Jaipur leveled the game at 16-16 in the 19th minute. Patna Pirates forced a super tackle in the dying seconds of the first half to take a 19-16 lead at the break.

Rajesh Mondal failed to get a point on a do-or-die raid in the 23rd minute as Jaipir Pink Panthers trailed 18-19. Patna Pirates forced a super tackle in the 25th minute to lead 21-18. Pardeep Narwal continued his good form and scored two points as Patna Pirates opened a five-point gap in the 26th minute. Pardeep Narwal attained a super 10 as Patna Pirates led 25-19 after 29 minutes.

Patna Pirates failed to inflict an all out in the 32nd minute as Ajay Kumar got two points with Jaipur Pink Panthers trailing 22-27. Patna Pirates forced an all out in the next minute to lead 31-23 and were on course to win their second successive Pro Kabaddi League title.

With less than five minutes left, Patna Pirates increased the lead to 10 points and led 33-23. Jasvir Singh scored his 10th point of the match in 37th minute as Jaipur Pink Panthers trailed 24-33. Patna Pirates’ strategy in the last few minutes were to play on empty raids and it worked well as their defence didn’t make any silly mistakes. Jaipur Pink Panthers cut the lead to seven points in the 38th minute but Pardeep Narwal scored with a two-point raid to seal a historic triumph for Patna Pirates as they won 37-29.

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History awaits as Patna Pirates face Jaipur Pink Panthers in Pro Kabaddi League 4 finale

Hyderabad: Defending champions Patna Pirates with face the inaugural Pro Kabaddi League champions Jaipur Pink Panthers for the silverware in the current season on Sunday (31st July) in Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Indoor Stadium.

While Patna beat Puneri Paltan 37-33 in the first semi-final, Jaipur entered the final after beating Telugu Titans by 34-24 in the second semi-final on Friday.

Patna, who finished the league phase of the competition atop on 52 points, will be banking heavily on captain Dharmaraj Cheralathan, Pardeep Narwal, Rajesh Mondal to cross the final hurdle and become the first team to lift the title in consecutive seasons.

Jaipur, on the other hand, has a mixed bag of fortune throughout the tournament. In the league phase, where Jaipur finished third on 47 points, captain Jasvir Singh with 69 raid points continues to be prolific for the Abhishek Bachchan owned side. Defender Amit Hooda also has a impressive tournament so far. With 44 successful tackles, Hooda shares the top spot in successful tackle ranking Bengaluru Bulls’ Mohit Chhillar.

So no matter whatever will be the outcome, fans can expect for a fascinating game of Kabaddi and end of it one team will create history by lifting the PKL trophy for the second time.

Meanwhile, prior to the grand finale on 9.15 pm, Fire Birds will cross swords with Storm Queens in the final of the inaugural Pro Kabaddi Women’s at 7.00 pm.