UP Yoddhas rode on Pardeep Narwal's heroics as they earned a facile victory against Bengaluru Bulls with a 44-37 scoreline in a Pro Kabaddi League season 9's match at the Shree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday (October 16).
Narwal's super show was complimented by Surender Gill as the Yoddhas won their second game of the season.
After a cautious start, where both teams traded the first few points between each other, the Yoddhas started to build a slight advantage. Despite the minimal margin between them on the scoreboard, in reality, the Bulls' points were coming from bonuses, while the Yoddhas were getting touch points and driving their opponents off the mat with ease.
This momentum paid dividends halfway through the first period, as the Yoddhas initiated the first ALL OUT of the game, to build a five-point advantage. From there, the Yoddhas didn't let up. Right off the bat, just as all seven Bulls players got back on the mat, Pardeep Narwal's SUPER RAID took four of them — Aman, Rajnesh, Neeraj Narwal, Saurabh Nandal — back out again. Minutes after the first one, the Yoddhas had another ALL OUT to take a comprehensive lead at 21-11. Narwal's raiding streak kicked off from there, as he picked up points on three consecutive raids to help his team build the advantage. The Yoddhas went into half-time leading at 26-12.
Narwal's amazing run continued well into the second half, as the vivo Pro Kabaddi League all-time topscorer, racked up raid points constantly to pull the Yoddhas far out of sight. His contribution wasn't in isolation though, with his raiding partner, Surender Gill equally efficient, completing his own 10 points silently while Narwal raked in the plaudits. The Yoddhas got a third ALL OUT to widen their lead at 37-16 and at that time, the game effectively was over for the Bulls.
Playing for pride, the Bulls picked up the quality of their game, and initiated an ALL OUT of their own. The burst of energy at the end helped them claw back to within seven, and take a consolation point from the encounter.
Please also find attached images of Governor of Karnataka Thawar Chand Gehlot with the Bengaluru Bulls and UP Yoddhas teams.
Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat open Puneri Paltan's winning account
The Puneri Paltan showed determination right from the word go when they took on U Mumba.
Raiders Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat scored 14 points together, while Captain Fazel Atrachali notched 4 points to help Puneri Paltan defeat U Mumba 30-28 and register their first victory of the season.
Aslam Inamdar chipped in a with a couple of raids as Puneri Paltan took the lead at 5-4 in the 6th minute. Soon after, Mohit Goyat pulled off a multi-point raid and reduced U Mumba to three players on the mat. However, Guman Singh and Jai Bhagwan effected raids and helped their side stay in the game at 7-7. Guman continued to showcase top form as the Mumbai side led at 9-7 in the 11th minute. However, the Puneri defenders fought back and regained the lead at 10-9. Thereafter, both sides traded points until Puneri managed to keep their noses in front at 14-13 at the end of the first half.
Inamdar pulled off a fantastic raid in the opening minutes of the second half as Puneri widened their lead at 16-13. Moments later, Goyat effected a raid which reduced the U Mumba side to two players on the mat. The Mumbai side were on the verge of getting ALL OUT, but Heidarali Ekrami carried out a brilliant raid to level the scores at 20-20 in the 31st minute.
However, Aslam Inamdar tackled Rinku and Surinder Singh soon after, to help his side inflict an ALL OUT. Defenders Sanket Sawant and Sombir also stepped up their game as Puneri took a massive lead at 27-20. Jai Bhagwan and Guman Singh fought hard for U Mumba in the last few minutes, but Puneri managed to hold on to their lead and eventually walked off the mat as winners.
