Published: January 5, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Ganga Kings of Mirzapur held their nerve to defeat Aligarh Tigers 34–32, in a must-win clash with top four implications, registering their third win of UPKL Season 2 and completing a back-to-back victory run in Noida on Sunday evening.
The match began at a high intensity, with both sides aware of what was at stake. Ganga Kings struck the first major blow when Amit Nagar produced a crucial super raid, which was followed by an all-out on Aligarh Tigers, allowing Ganga to seize early momentum. Aligarh, however, responded strongly through disciplined defence and a timely super tackle, turning the tables by forcing an all-out on Ganga Kings to bring the contest back on level terms.
The first half remained tightly contested, with just two points separating the teams at halftime, underlining how evenly matched the sides were. Neither team was willing to take unnecessary risks as the second half began, and the match settled into a cautious phase marked by tactical raids and measured defending.
Ganga Kings managed to keep their noses ahead through a key super tackle in the latter stages, but Aligarh Tigers refused to fade away and continued to apply pressure. With the match entering the final minute, Ganga held a slender one-point lead, setting up a tense finish.
In the decisive moment, Akash Kumar was brought in as the last raider with a clear objective—to secure points and ensure Ganga could withstand any late twist. Rising to the occasion, Akash produced a brilliant super raid, collecting two touch points along with a bonus, which swung the contest decisively in Ganga’s favour.
Ganga Kings of Mirzapur closed out the match 34–32, securing their third win of the season and keeping their top four hopes firmly alive. The victory also marked a back-to-back win for the Mirzapur-based side, highlighting their growing momentum at a crucial stage of UPKL Season 2.
Sangam Challengers delivered one of their most authoritative performances of the season to overpower Kashi Kings
Sangam Challengers brook no challenge
In the second match, Sangam Challengers delivered one of their most authoritative performances of the season to overpower Kashi Kings. Sangam set the tone early by inflicting an all-out within the opening minutes and refused to allow Kashi any opportunity to recover. A second all-out followed soon after, and Sangam went into halftime with a commanding 13-point lead. The pattern continued in the second half as Sangam inflicted another early all-out, turning the contest completely one-sided. Kashi Kings struggled to find rhythm throughout, while Sangam controlled proceedings from start to finish to register a comprehensive win.
Brij Stars dominate Awadh Ramdoots
The third encounter saw Brij Stars produce a defensive masterclass against Awadh Ramdoots, securing a dominant 36–13 victory. Brij Stars executed a clear tactical plan, successfully neutralising Awadh’s key raiders, including Abhimanyu Raghuvanshi and Ashish Bhati, who found it difficult to break through Brij’s organised defence. Sustained pressure resulted in Awadh being all-out three times during the match. Brij Stars maintained control through disciplined tackling and measured raiding, making it one of the most one-sided contests of the day.
Gazab Ghaziabad defeated JD Noida Ninjas 45-31.
Gazab Ghaziabad climb back to second spot
The final match featured a strong comeback display from Gazab Ghaziabad, who defeated JD Noida Ninjas 45–31 to climb to second place on the league table. JD Noida started brightly and inflicted an early all-out to take initial control. Gazab responded through captain Uday Dabas, whose super raid helped level the scores. A late first-half all-out against JD Noida allowed Gazab to take a four-point lead into the break. The second half belonged firmly to Gazab, with Aman Rana emerging as the standout performer. Rana delivered a series of super raids that repeatedly breached the JD Noida defence, leading to another all-out and a decisive extension of the lead. Gazab managed the remainder of the match confidently to close out a commanding win.
With the conclusion of Day 11, the competition has tightened significantly. Gazab Ghaziabad, Brij Stars, Kashi Kings, Yamuna Yoddhas, and Awadh Ramdoots are all locked on 10 points, ensuring an intense battle ahead as UPKL Season 2 moves deeper into its decisive phase.
Sambhav Jain (left), founder of UPKL, and Parvin Dabas (right) watching the proceedings on Sunday evening.
The day also witnessed a special off-court moment, with Parvin Dabas, an Indian actor and director and co-owner of the Pro Panja League, in attendance at the venue. Dabas interacted with players and officials and was felicitated during the event, underlining UPKL’s growing engagement with personalities connected to Indian contact sports and grassroots sporting initiatives.
