The 69th Senior National Women’s Kabaddi Championship held in Mahendragarh, Haryana, was a thrilling affair that saw the hosts finally clinch the gold medal after coming agonizingly close several times before. The captain of the Haryana women’s team, Priyanka, led from the front and played an instrumental role in her team’s success. But it was Pooja who stole the show with her exceptional raiding skills that helped Haryana clinch the coveted title. Their opponents in the final match, the former champions Himachal Pradesh, were no match for the skill and determination of the Haryana women’s team. The championship provided a platform for the women kabaddi players to showcase their potential and the passion for the sport was evident throughout the tournament.
Himachal Pradesh made quite an entrance in their match against Jharkhand with a spectacular all-out within the first five minutes. The team’s offence, led by Pushpa Rana and Dimple, kept the points coming in consistently. Jharkhand tried to fight back, but lost points in their defence in the second half. Himachal Pradesh’s impressive performance earned them a solid lead over their opponents and a spot in the Finals with a remarkable score of 49-20 in the first semi-final. It was an exciting game that showcased the skills of both teams, but ultimately Himachal Pradesh proved to be a force to be reckoned with.
The second semi-final of the recent tournament saw a thrilling match-up between Pooja of Haryana and Nidhi of Rajasthan. Right from the outset, both players showed tremendous grit and determination, with each successive raid keeping the scoreboard ticking. Within just eight minutes of the match, the scores were all tied up, making for an exciting and closely-fought contest. However, it was Haryana’s massive super tackle over Sakshi Kumari, coupled with a stunning 2-point raid by Pooja, that helped the team take the lead in the first half. As a result, Haryana led by three points at halftime, with the scoreline reading 17-14 in their favour.
Haryana’s dominance in the Pro Kabaddi League semifinals was evident from the very start. The team inflicted the first all-out of the match and extended their lead by five points within the first two minutes of the second half. Despite Rajasthan’s efforts to get back into the game, they couldn’t match up to Haryana’s strong defence and ferocious attack. Nidhi and Prachi Beniwal were consistent in scoring raid points for their team, but it was Pooja who stole the show with her magnificent Super 10. With this impressive performance, Haryana has booked their place in the Final for the first time since 2019, and fans can’t wait to see what they’ll bring to the table.
The atmosphere was electric as the much-awaited final between the hosts and defending champions began. The crowd was clearly in favour of their home team, and Pooja’s early touchpoint set the tone for the match. Pushpa Rana wasted no time in equalizing the score with an impressive 2-point raid, and the two teams continued to battle it out in offence. The first half was an intense seesaw of points, with neither team managing to pull ahead significantly. However, the defending champions had a slim lead of 15-14 as the half-time whistle blew. It was clear that this match was going to be a nail-biting affair until the very end.
In a stunning performance, Haryana dominated the Final and secured a resounding victory over their opponents. With an early 4-point lead right at the beginning of the second half, Haryana showed that they were determined to emerge victorious. Pushpa and Jyoti tried their best to close the gap, but Haryana’s defence was simply too strong. Their incredible tackles in the end ensured that they secured the first all-out of the Final, contributing to their ultimate victory by a staggering 7 points. It was an unforgettable performance by the hosts, and one that will be remembered for a long time to come.
