Jaipur Pink Panthers rode on a solid defensive performance to beat Tamil Thalaivas 27-26 in Inter Zone Challenge Week of Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 5. In what was a closely fought encounter both teams scored the equal number of raid and tackle points. It was Jaipur’s experience that pushed them over the line in the end. Manjeet Chhillar and Pawan Kumar scored five points apiece as they contained Tamil Thalaivas raiders throughout the match. Ajay Thakur scored 13 points for Tamil Thalaivas but couldn’t get enough support from his teammates. No other Thalaivas raider got more than one point.
Jaipur Pink Panthers have 43 points from 14 matches are now fifth in Zone A table. Tamil Thalaivas are bottom of the table with 33 points from 15 matches in Zone B.
Jaipur Pink Panthers began the match brightly and took a 3-1 lead in the third minute as Tushar Patil got two raid points. Tamil Thalaivas scored a tackle point in the fifth minute to level the game at 4-4. Tushar Patil got a two-point raid in the eight minute as Jaipur led 8-5. Ajay Thakur got two raid points in two minutes as Tamil Thalaivas trailed 7-9 in the 11th minute.
Pawan Kumar scored a raid point in the 16th minute as Jaipur leveled the match at 13-13. Jaipur then inflicted an all out to lead 16-14 in the 18th minute. Jaipur went into the break leading 18-15 as Pawan Kumar got another raid point.
Ajay Thakur was assigned raiding duties and he didn’t disappoint as he scored four points in five minutes as Tamil Thalaivas tied the match at 20-20 in the 29th minute.
Jaipur Pink Panthers held a slight edge as they led 25-23 in the 35th minute. Jaipur sent Ajay Thakur to the bench in the 37th minute as they led 26-24. Manjeet Chhillar and Pawan Kumar got a high five for Jaipur Pink Panthers in the second half. Tamil Thalaivas forced a super tackle in the last minute but it wasn’t enough as they lost 26-27.
PUNERI PALTAN NARROWLY BEAT UP YODDHA 34-33
Puneri Paltan almost snatched a defeat from the jaws of victory but held on to beat UP Yoddha 34-33 in the Inter Zone Challenge Week of Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 5. UP Yoddha mounted a strong comeback in the last 10 minutes but just fell short. Deepak Niwas Hooda scored three super raids and ended with 16 points for Puneri Paltan. Sagar Krishna scored six tackle points for UP Yoddha and Rishank Devadiga contributed nine tackle points.
Deepak Hooda made a super raid in the fifth minute to give Puneri Paltan 5-2 lead. Rishank Devadiga responded with a super raid as UP Yoddha leveled it at 5-5 in the seventh minute. Deepak Hooda scored with another super raid in the eighth minute to lead 9-5. UP Yoddha forced a super tackle in the 10th minute as they trailed 8-9.
The next few minutes of the first half were keenly contested as both teams were level at 11-11 after 15 minutes. Monu scored with a two-point raid as Puneri Paltan led 15-12 in the 18th minute. Puneri Paltan inflicted an all out in the next minute as they led 18-14 at the end of the first half.
Deepak Hooda was in fine form as he came up with another super raid in the 22nd minute to give Puneri Paltan 22-14 lead. In the 25th minute Puneri Paltan inflicted another all out to lead 28-17.
UP Yoddha trailed by 12 points with 11 minutes left on the clock. They mounted a comeback as Nitin Tomar got into the act and scored two points in the 31st minute. UP Yoddha then inflicted an all out to cut the lead to just four points. With less than five minutes to go UP Yoddha came back on level terms as they tied the match at 32-32. Rishank Devadiga scored a raid point in the 37th minute to give UP Yoddha 33-32 lead. Suresh Kumar got Puneri Paltan on equal footing with a raid point in the 38th minute. Puneri Paltan scored a tackle point in the last minute to win the match 34-33.
