Hyderabad, October 20, 2024:
The 11th season of the Pro Kabaddi League kicked off with high-energy action as the Gujarat Giants marked a successful beginning, defeating Bengaluru Bulls 36-32 at the GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad on Sunday night. Despite Bengaluru’s valiant efforts, this marks their second consecutive defeat in the league.
Gujarat’s riders, especially Pardeek Dahiya, played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring 8 crucial points. Himanshu Singh contributed with 7 points, while Guman Singh and Sombir added 6 points each. However, the star performer of the night was Bengaluru’s captain Pardeep Narwal, who not only topped the scoreboard with 9 raid points but also reached a significant milestone by crossing 1700 raid points – the first player in the league to do so.
Despite Narwal’s efforts, the Bengaluru Bulls couldn’t stop the Giants from clinching the match. Ajinkya Panwar also showed remarkable skill, scoring 7 points, but his impressive performance couldn’t prevent Bengaluru from succumbing to their second defeat.
Match Highlights
The match started with Bengaluru’s captain Pardeep Narwal securing the first point for his team with a bonus, followed by two points from his next raid. Bengaluru quickly took a 3-1 lead after Jai Bhagwan touched Pardeek Dahiya. However, Gujarat soon leveled the score at 4-4, thanks to a solid tackle from Sombir.
Bengaluru seemed to gain momentum as Ajinkya Panwar led a series of successful raids, pushing the Bulls to a 13-9 lead. Despite Gujarat’s efforts, Bengaluru went into the halftime break leading 19-16, with Narwal and Panwar controlling the pace of the game.
Second-Half Turnaround
Gujarat Giants came back strong after the break. With tactical brilliance from Pardeek Dahiya and consistent riding by Himanshu Singh, who scored five consecutive points, Gujarat took control of the match. They regained the lead 25-23 as Sombir and Bhagwan Court tackled Bengaluru’s key players, including Narwal and Panwar.
The final moments of the match saw Bengaluru Bulls trying to catch up. Both Narwal and Panwar added touch points to reduce the deficit, but it was not enough. Nitin Rawal’s critical tackle on Guman Singh secured Gujarat’s victory as they maintained a four-point lead, winning 36-32.
Upcoming Matches
In the next set of fixtures on Monday, the UP Yodhas will take on Dabang Delhi KC, and the Patna Pirates will face off against Puneri Paltan.
The Giants have undoubtedly set the tone for a thrilling season ahead, while Bengaluru Bulls will need to regroup quickly to avoid further losses.
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