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The Jaipur Pink Panthers, reigning champions of the Pro Kabaddi League, extended their impressive run with a commanding 41-31 victory over U Mumba in their Season 10 encounter. The match, held at the DOME by NSCI in Mumbai, saw Arjun Deshwal's remarkable performance, earning him a Super 10, being a pivotal factor in the win. Arjun racked up an impressive 17 raid points, while teammate Ankush collected 5 tackle points. On the U Mumba side, Guman Singh emerged as a standout performer with 13 raid points.
U Mumba, playing at home, struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, relying heavily on Guman's raiding prowess. He single-handedly scored 10 of U Mumba's 13 points in the initial 20 minutes, while their defense managed only one tackle point. The Jaipur Pink Panthers, despite appearing unsteady in defense, were buoyed by their trio of raiders: Arjun, V Ajith Kumar, and Bhavani Rajput.
The Panthers' offense gained momentum with Arjun's multi-point raid, leading to the game's first All-Out and a 12-5 lead in the seventh minute. Shortly thereafter, V Ajith Kumar scored, doubling their lead over U Mumba to 18-9. Guman continued to shine for U Mumba, achieving his Super 10 by the 16th minute and surpassing the 300 raid points milestone in PKL history. However, his team still lagged by 9 points at halftime.
Arjun's exceptional performance continued in the second half, with another multi-point raid early on, earning him a Super 10 and the distinction of being the season's first raider to cross 100 raid points. Eight minutes into the second half, the Panthers inflicted another All-Out, bolstered by Arjun's two-point raid and a tackle from Reza Mirbagheri, putting them firmly in control with a 33-19 lead.
Despite a spirited comeback attempt from U Mumba in the later stages, featuring significant raids from Jai Bhagwan and Alireza Mirzaeian, the deficit proved too large to overcome. Ankush, noted as the previous season’s best defender, achieved his High 5, solidifying the Panthers' stronghold in the game. Ultimately, the Jaipur Pink Panthers delivered U Mumba their first defeat of their home leg, emphasizing their dominance and strategic prowess in the league.
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