In a dramatic turnaround Yamuna Yoddhas stunned Kashi Kings 34–32 and thereby ended Kashi’s unbeaten run in a tense encounter in the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) Season 2 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Thursday night.
Kashi Kings held the upper hand in the first half, executing their raids efficiently to take a three-point lead at halftime. Yamuna, however, emerged with renewed intensity in the second half. A pivotal all-out against Kashi Kings swung momentum decisively, allowing Yamuna to overturn the deficit and establish a four-point lead.
Kashi fought back bravely and reduced the margin to a single point, setting up a dramatic final raid where they needed just one point to force a tie. Yamuna’s defence held firm under pressure, denying the crucial raid and sealing a memorable victory in one of the closest contests of the day.
Uday shines again as Ghaziabad withstand Purvanchal fightback
Later in the evening, Gazab Ghaziabad secure a hard-earned 37–31 win over Purvanchal Panthers, led once more by the influential presence of captain Uday Dabas.
Gazab Ghaziabad dominated the opening exchanges, inflicting an early all-out and building a strong platform through aggressive raiding and compact defence. Their control translated into a commanding 22–11 halftime lead. Purvanchal responded with renewed energy in the second half, sparked by a super raid from Hritik Rathi that resulted in an all-out and brought them back within three points.
As the contest tightened, both sides traded points through super tackles and high-pressure raids. With Gazab holding a narrow lead late in the match, Uday Dabas delivered the decisive blow, producing a last-minute super raid for three points to put the result beyond doubt and cap another standout performance.
Brij Stars execute controlled win over Kanpur Warriors
Brij Stars asserted their authority with a 36–24 victory over Kanpur Warriors.
Brij Stars seized early control by forcing an early all-out, stretching the lead to double digits and putting Kanpur under pressure. Kanpur showed resilience by responding with an all-out of their own, narrowing the margin and keeping the contest alive at halftime, with Brij leading by just three points.
The second half, however, belonged firmly to Brij Stars. Another all-out against Kanpur Warriors proved decisive, breaking Kanpur’s confidence and allowing Brij to dictate the tempo. From there, Brij managed the game efficiently, maintaining structure and discipline to close out a comfortable win by a 12-point margin.
Lucknow Lions dominate Awadh Ramdoots
Earlier in the day, the new year began the same way the previous one ended for Lucknow Lions, as they delivered another commanding performance to defeat Awadh Ramdoots 48–33.
Lucknow Lions once again showcased why they are regarded as the most complete unit in the league, combining sharp raiding with disciplined defence to control proceedings from the outset. The first half belonged firmly to Lucknow, led by young raider Shivam Chaudhary, who repeatedly troubled the Awadh defence with his timing and execution. Shivam was in outstanding touch, scoring 10 points from just eight raids, and never allowed Awadh Ramdoots to settle into a defensive rhythm.
Lucknow’s dominance was further underlined by their defensive unit, which remained compact and alert, forcing errors and capitalising on opportunities to inflict two all-outs on Awadh Ramdoots. The sustained pressure resulted in Lucknow Lions heading into halftime with a 13-point lead, firmly in control of the contest.
Awadh Ramdoots attempted to mount a comeback after the break, showing greater urgency and trying to find gaps in the Lucknow defence. However, Shivam Chaudhary continued to dictate terms, adding another crucial raid that yielded three points, halting Awadh’s momentum just as they looked to claw their way back.
One of the defining phases of the match came when Lucknow Lions were briefly reduced to three players on the mat. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they displayed remarkable composure and defensive organisation, avoiding an all-out and successfully repelling Awadh’s raids. That phase proved pivotal, draining Awadh’s confidence and reinforcing Lucknow’s control.
With the match slowing down in the closing stages, Lucknow Lions managed the game intelligently, ensuring there were no late surprises. They eventually closed out a comprehensive 48–33 victory, continuing their impressive run and setting the tone for the eighth day of the tournament.
