Published: January 8, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Lucknow Lions produced a clinic performance to thump Yamuna Yoddhas 60-44 in the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) Season 2. Lucknow thereby denied Yamuna the opportunity to move into second place on the league table at a critical stage of the season.
With a potential jump to the second position at stake during the Do-or-Die Week, Yamuna Yoddhas began the contest with clear intent and urgency. Their aggressive approach paid early dividends as they managed to force an all-out on Lucknow Lions, signalling their hunger in a high-pressure encounter. League-leading raider Ritik Sharma led the charge, repeatedly testing the Lucknow defence and keeping the contest finely balanced in the opening exchanges.
Lucknow Lions, however, responded with composure and experience. Led by senior campaigner Arjun Deshwal and supported by a sharp defensive unit, the defending champions gradually wrestled back control. The momentum swung decisively when Lucknow inflicted two all-outs on Yamuna Yoddhas, turning the tide and opening up a clear gap on the scoreboard.
Despite the setback, Yamuna Yoddhas refused to back down. Ritik Sharma continued to apply pressure through relentless raiding, attempting to drag his side back into contention. The match remained tense through the middle phase, with Yamuna repeatedly searching for momentum-changing moments.
Lucknow Lions ensured those moments never arrived. Their defence tightened further in the closing stages, and in the dying minutes, they delivered the decisive blow by forcing another all-out on Yamuna Yoddhas, effectively sealing the contest.
A standout performance came from Lucknow’s young raider Shivam, who delivered a flawless display, scoring 19 raid points from 19 raids to register a remarkable 100 percent strike rate. His consistency, combined with Arjun Deshwal’s leadership, ensured Lucknow Lions closed out a dominant 60–44 victory, reinforcing their position at the top end of the table and halting Yamuna’s push for second place.
Sangam Challengers produce one of the most dominant performances of the season, defeating Awadh Ramdoots 57–23
Kashi Kings keep their hopes alive
The second match saw Kashi Kings keep their playoff hopes alive with a 44–29 win over Kanpur Warriors, who were playing their final match of the season. Kanpur began positively and attempted to disrupt Kashi’s rhythm, but the contest turned in the final four minutes of the first half when Kashi tightened their defence and forced an all-out, taking a seven-point lead into halftime. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Kanpur continuing to fight but Kashi consistently shutting down any comeback attempts through disciplined defence and controlled raiding.
Purvanchal Panthers edge Noida Ninjas
Late drama unfolded in the third match as Purvanchal Panthers edged JD Noida Ninjas 6–5 in a tiebreaker after the scores were locked at 34–34. Purvanchal struck first by forcing an early all-out, but JD Noida responded with an all-out of their own to take control. The match remained evenly poised until the dying moments, when Purvanchal forced JD Noida all-out to edge ahead by a single point and push the contest into a tiebreaker. In the decider, Purvanchal executed their strategy with greater clarity, collecting multi-point raids to seal a narrow but well-earned win.
Sangam Challengers dominate Awadh Ramdoots
The final match of the day saw Sangam Challengers produce one of the most dominant performances of the season, defeating Awadh Ramdoots 57–23 in a must-win encounter for Awadh. Sangam asserted control from the outset, applying relentless pressure in both raiding and defence. Awadh struggled to find rhythm as Sangam repeatedly wiped them out, inflicting five all-outs over the course of the match. Pankaj Thakur once again led the charge with 16 raid points, as Sangam closed out a comprehensive victory to move up to second place.
With just two days of league matches remaining, the standings are tightening rapidly. The top two teams will contest the UPKL Trophy on 10 January, while the teams finishing third and fourth will battle for third place. The Do-or-Die Week has lived up to its billing so far, with the table currently led by Lucknow Lions, followed closely by Sangam Challengers and Kashi Kings, while Gazab Ghaziabad, Brij Stars, and Yamuna Yoddhas remain firmly in the hunt. As the league heads into its final stretch, the margins are razor-thin and the drama is only set to intensify.
