UP Yoddhas set the mat ablaze with their heroic efforts to seize clinical win against the home side.

Vizag, August 30: UP Yoddhas commenced their Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 12 campaign in emphatic style with a 40-35 victory against the Telugu Titans at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Vizag tonight.

Gagan Gowda was the top-scorer for the Yoddhas, notching 14 points, including four bonus ones, as Sumit Sangwan, the skipper, and Guman Singh followed him by adding eight and seven to the team’s tally, respectively. Sumit’s defensive tenacity stood out and he was ably supported by his deputy Ashu Singh as they earned the team a combined nine points through their tackles.

Vijay Malik was the one who steered the ship for the Titans, bagging 10 raid points, one through a tackle, and three bonus ones to aggregate 14 at the end of the match. However, he lacked adequate support from the rest of the teammates, as the Yoddhas sustained a stronghold over the proceedings throughout the game to grab hold of a critical win in their opening encounter of the campaign.

The Yoddhas, a well-oiled unit, appeared cohesive and composed from the onset, setting the tone of the proceedings through their positive endeavours that caught the home side off-guard.

Prior to the season, their focus was on continuing with their core, but on-boarding some smart stars that could add four feathers to their already impressive roster. Guman, their star acquisition from the auction, embodied that by playing the perfect foil to Gagan, as the two blended perfect with Sumit’s defensive prowess to deprive the Titans of any sort of momentum in the clash.

What’s next for both teams?

Next up, UP Yoddhas will play the Patna Pirates on September 1 at this venue, whereas the Telugu Titans are poised to lock horns with the Jaipur Pink Panthers on September 4.

Brief Scores

Telugu Titans 35 - 40 UP Yoddhas