It was a match that went to the wire as the Jaipur Pink Panthers secured a close and impressive 30-27 win over the Haryana Steelers in Play-in 1. The defenders stood tall as Aryan Kumar scored a High Five while Deepanshu Khatri got four points for the Pink Panthers, while Nitin Kumar scored seven points. For the Steelers, Neeraj\u2019s High Five was the main highlight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was thrilling to witness such exceptional kabaddi. While Haryana Steelers were favoured as reigning champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers dominated from the start. Their main raider, Nitin Dhankhar, gave them an early 10-point lead, and the team maintained remarkable composure throughout.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"The defense, particularly the corner defenders, Aryan Kumar and Deepanshu Khatri, executed perfect ankle holds like magnets attached to their hands, keeping Haryana\u2019s raiders under constant pressure. Jaipur played as a complete unit, demonstrating why they deserved this impressive win,\" said Rishank on JIoHotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on Haryana Steelers\u2019 below par performance, he added, \"Haryana\u2019s Coach Manpreet Singh recognized early that this match against Jaipur Pink Panthers was slipping away. The players lacked their usual enthusiasm and momentum, which was visible in Manpreet\u2019s frustration.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"With our experience in the sport, we can identify when a team has lost its rhythm and Manpreet, who\u2019s such an experienced Coach and has played a lot of kabaddi in his days knew that the match is going to be tough to win, he urged his players to attempt advanced tackles to reignite their spark, even in defeat. Unfortunately, this strategy backfired, compounding their challenges on the mat,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Play-in 2, three-time champions Patna Pirates eliminated U Mumba after a 40-31. Ayan Lohchab scored 14 points but it was a defensive masterclass that saw 16 points led by Navdeep (7) and Ankit (4) that took the Pirates into the Eliminator 1, where they will play the Jaipur Pink Panthers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hailong Lohchab\u2019s exceptional consistency, Rishank said, \"I have never seen a raider who consistently delivers marathon raids like Ayan. We have legends like Pardeep Narwal, known for iconic moves like the \u2018dubki\u2019, but Ayan is different. To consistently score Super 10s, sometimes even 20 points match after match, while maintaining such high fitness levels is remarkable. The way he manages his body and performance deserves true respect.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Play-in 2, three-time champions Patna Pirates eliminated U Mumba after a 40-31. Ayan Lohchab scored 14 points but it was a defensive masterclass that saw 16 points led by Navdeep (7) and Ankit (4) that took the Pirates into the Eliminator 1, where they will play the Jaipur Pink Panthers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Navdeep, in particular, stepped up in this crucial match after a challenging season, dominating from the start with solo tackles, waist holds, and ankle holds. Patna\u2019s defensive display ultimately left U Mumba\u2019s raiders with no answers.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n