Haryana came from behind to script a narrow 39-37 win over defending champions Indian Railways and clinch the title at the 72nd Women’s Senior National Kabaddi Championship at the Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, on Friday.
In a keenly fought final, the match lived up to expectations, with both teams trading momentum through the two halves. Haryana edged ahead in the closing stages to secure the win, producing a composed performance under pressure to claim the championship.
Nikita once again emerged as the standout performer for Haryana, leading the scoring with 17 points through a combination of touch and bonus points. Ruchi provided strong support with nine points, while Raj Rani contributed across raids to keep Haryana in control during key phases of the match.
For Indian Railways, Pooja was the top scorer with 11 points, while another strong all-round contribution came from Pooja and Sonali Shingate, who added six points each. Despite a disciplined defensive effort and a late push, Railways fell just short in a final decided by fine margins.
Haryana’s road to the title featured consistent performances across the knockout stages. After defeating Madhya Pradesh convincingly in the quarterfinals, Haryana overcame pre-tournament favourites Himachal Pradesh in a tight semifinal before delivering another composed display in the final to secure the championship.
Indian Railways, meanwhile, showcased their experience and depth throughout the tournament. They progressed to the final with commanding wins over Maharashtra in the quarterfinals and Tamil Nadu in the semifinals, underlining their status as one of the most consistent sides in the competition before narrowly missing out in the title clash.
The two losing semifinalists, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, were awarded bronze medals in recognition of their performances.
In the first semifinal, Indian Railways continued their consistent run with a 46–28 win over Tamil Nadu. Pooja led the scoring for Railways with 11 points, while Sonali Shingate and Suman contributed six points each in a balanced team performance. Tamil Nadu were led by Suji M, who scored seven points, with Karthika R and Sneka Chinraj adding five points apiece, but Railways’ defensive organisation proved decisive.
The second semifinal saw Haryana edge past Himachal Pradesh 35–29 to end the latter’s title challenge. Himachal Pradesh had entered the knockout stages with strong league and quarterfinal form and were widely viewed as one of the contenders for the title. Haryana, however, produced a composed performance under pressure, with Nikita top-scoring with 13 points and Ruchi adding five. Himachal Pradesh remained in contention through Pushpa (10 points) and Jyoti (eight), but Haryana closed out the match effectively in the final phase.
