UPKL Season 2: The fourth day of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League Season Two delivered high-intensity action, emotional turnarounds, and memorable individual performances at the Noida Indoor Stadium. Across four matches, fans witnessed close finishes, tactical battles, and dominant wins that underlined the growing competitiveness of the league. Young players stepped up alongside experienced names, reinforcing the league’s reputation as a strong platform for talent development and professional kabaddi excellence.
The opening match of the day set the tone with a gripping contest between Purvanchal Panthers and Aligarh Tigers. Aligarh began with sharp defensive coordination, forcing an early all-out and taking control of the scoreboard. Their structured approach disrupted Purvanchal’s rhythm and allowed them to dictate the early tempo.
Purvanchal Panthers responded with resilience and composure. They reorganized quickly, inflicted an all-out in return, and brought the scores level. Young raider Himesh Tewatiya emerged as a key figure during this phase, showing maturity under pressure and helping his team briefly edge ahead. Despite being wiped out once more, Aligarh Tigers regrouped effectively and entered halftime with a narrow two-point advantage.
The second half mirrored the intensity of the first, with momentum swinging repeatedly. Aligarh again forced an all-out, only for Purvanchal to answer immediately with disciplined defence and timely raids. Himesh Tewatiya continued to trouble the opposition, while the Panthers’ defensive unit produced crucial tackles at decisive moments.
As the match headed toward its conclusion, the outcome remained uncertain until the final raid. Purvanchal Panthers held their nerve and executed their plans with precision, clinching a dramatic 38–37 victory. The match highlighted the importance of composure in tight situations and showcased how emerging players can influence results on a big stage.
The second match saw Sangam Challengers deliver a commanding performance against Yamuna Yoddhas. From the opening minutes, Sangam asserted control through aggressive raiding and cohesive team movement. Their ability to maintain pressure denied Yamuna any sustained momentum, and the scoreboard reflected Sangam’s dominance as the gap widened steadily.
Pankaj Thakur led the charge with an impressive raiding display, scoring consistently and breaking through the defence with ease. Strong support from Gautam Singh and Harshit ensured that Sangam kept scoring from multiple avenues. Yamuna Yoddhas found some resistance through Ritik Sharma, who put in a spirited individual effort, but the lack of collective support proved costly. The 52–29 result reinforced Sangam Challengers’ status as one of the most balanced and consistent teams in the competition.
The third encounter of the day brought another edge-of-the-seat finish as Brij Stars overcame Gazab Ghaziabad in a closely fought match. Brij Stars built their advantage by forcing two timely all-outs, creating a narrow but valuable cushion. Their defensive discipline restricted Ghaziabad’s key raiders for much of the contest.
Gazab Ghaziabad, however, refused to give up. Captain Uday Dabas rose to the occasion in the final moments with a crucial super raid that cut the deficit to a single point and reignited hopes of a comeback. With the match hanging in the balance, a mistimed tackle attempt by Ghaziabad in the final raid proved decisive. Brij Stars capitalized on the error and sealed a hard-earned 35–33 victory.
The final match of the day featured another narrow result, with Kashi Kings edging past Awadh Ramdoots. Kashi dominated the early exchanges through proactive raiding and well-organized defence, forcing an all-out and establishing control in the first half. Their ability to manage the tempo kept Awadh on the back foot.
In the second half, Awadh Ramdoots mounted a determined comeback, led by an outstanding defensive effort from Ravi Bhati, whose super tackles kept the contest alive. Despite the late surge, Kashi Kings managed the closing minutes efficiently. Arjun Sirohi and Varun combined effectively in attack, scoring at key moments to secure a 34–32 win and conclude an action-packed day of kabaddi.
