September 10, Vizag: UP Yoddhas had their fourth encounter of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 12 against Puneri Paltan result 43-32 in the latter’s favour at the Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag tonight. The Yoddhas saw their star raider Gagan Gowda demonstrate another impeccable outing, grabbing 12 points, which was the joint-highest in the game alongside Aditya Shinde of the opponents.

The Yoddhas were engaged in a gripping battle in the first half, and coaches banked on Gowda reinvigorate the setup with his youthful exuberance and impeccable skillsets.

He sparked an incredible impact, wasting no time in triggering an array of points into Yoddhas’ bank with his nimble footwork and an expansive range that sends tremors down the opponents’ line-up.

He was ably supported by Guman Singh in the offensive contingent. Guman was the team’s star acquisition in the auction, with tacticians Jasveer Singh and Upendra Malik placing significant trust in his ability to add flair and firepower to their raiding endeavours. Guman notched seven points in the encounter, as he alongside Gowda ensured that the Yoddhas unleashed their attacking potential, as was evident in the previous encounter against the Haryana Steelers as well.

Overall, the Yoddhas garnered 11 raid points in the first half and 13 of them in the second essay of the match. They completed 42 successful raids, and Paltan rounded off 43 of them, but UP’s success rate of 45.24% far superseded the 37.21 of Pune. Their raid strike rate of 54.76% was also superior to the 53.49% demonstrated by their adversary.

Heralded by many for their defensive fortitude, the UP Yoddhas have given a timely reminder of their exceptional attacking prowess in their last two matches – traits that promise to hold them in good stead as they round off the Vizag leg of the current campaign.

UP Yoddhas and Puneri Paltan will face the Jaipur Pink Panthers and Telugu Titans respectively on September 13 in the Pink City.