UP Yoddhas defeated Telugu Titans 40-35 to get off to a strong start in the Pro Kabaddi League at Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
With 14 points, including four extra ones, Gagan Gowda led the Yoddhas in scoring. Guman Singh and captain Sumit Sangwan added eight and seven points, respectively, to the team’s total.
Sumit’s defensive perseverance was evident, and he received strong assistance from his deputy Ashu Singh as the team scored nine points overall thanks to their tackles.
The Telugu Titans lost for the second time in a row, despite another strong performance by Vijay Malik.
Super Raids, Super Tackles, and a spectacular comeback attempt were all part of the game, but UP Yoddhas’ ability to mix raiding and defense ultimately made the difference.
The Yoddhas dominated the opening half and quickly found their rhythm. Early on, Gagan Gowda executed a spectacular Super Raid, with heavy assistance from Bhavani Rajput and Guman Singh. The Titans were unable to get traction due to Captain Sumit’s incisive tackles and ankle grabs.
Halfway through the half, the Titans were given their first all-out, and the Yoddhas had a commanding 21–13 advantage at the interval. Vijay Malik, the Telugu captain, appeared unhappy as his team was unable to overcome a strong UP defense.
The Yoddhas extended their lead with another all-out at the start of the second half. The game looked past the Titans at 25–14. But Vijay Malik and Chetan Sahu mounted an incredible comeback, cutting the gap with a combination of successful raids and bonus points.
The score was closer at 32-27 after the Titans even managed to all-out the Yoddhas for the first time during the game. Momentum appeared to change as the lead was reduced to three points with only minutes remaining.
Gagan Gowda’s incredible Super Raid in the last 75 seconds restored the Yoddhas’ lead just as the Titans looked like they could win the game. The Titans’ prospects of finishing their comeback were essentially dashed by the raid.
With a 40-35 victory confirmed by the final whistle, UP Yoddhas celebrated yet another outstanding team effort. Even though they were disappointed, the Telugu Titans should be encouraged by their strong second-half performance, which elevated the match to an exciting level.
