Vadodara, Feb 26 (NationPress) In an exciting turn of events at the 72nd Senior Men’s National Kabaddi Championship 2026, powerhouses Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra clinched their spots in the semifinals on the tournament's third day. The knockout rounds saw thrilling matches, with some teams showcasing commanding performances while others faced elimination.

A total of 16 teams competed in eight knockout games, each striving for advancement. The quarterfinals saw a mix of strong showings and nail-biting finishes, leading Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Services, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Indian Railways, and Bihar to the next stage.

The quarterfinals commenced with a thrilling upset, as Uttar Pradesh overcame the reigning champions Services with a score of 55–51, propelling them into the semifinals. Arjun Deshwal, captain of Tamil Thalaivas in the Pro Kabaddi League, was a standout performer for Uttar Pradesh, racking up an impressive 19 points.

In the second quarterfinal, Maharashtra triumphed over Himachal Pradesh with a decisive 53-38 victory, aided by the dynamic duo of Ajit Chouhan and Aditya Shinde, who scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Another significant upset occurred when Tamil Nadu edged past one of the tournament's favorites, Haryana, in a tie-breaker after both teams finished the match with 35 points each.

Chandigarh demonstrated their strength with a commanding 45–26 win against Madhya Pradesh, led by Pawan Sehrawat, who secured 10 points. Following this, Maharashtra delivered an overwhelming 69–21 victory over Pondicherry, showcasing a stellar team effort.

One of the day's highlights was the closely contested match between Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, where Himachal Pradesh emerged victorious with a score of 56–53. Their star raiders, Pappu Kumar and Mayank Saini, contributed significantly with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Uttar Pradesh continued their momentum with a dominant 65–24 win against Jammu & Kashmir.

In another match, Services asserted their dominance over Goa with a score of 51–22, where star raider Devank Dalal tallied 10 points and Ankit anchored the defense with 4 points.

Bihar secured a vital win against the hosts Gujarat with a narrow score of 38–34 in a fiercely contested match. Indian Railways concluded the pre-quarterfinals with a solid 57–38 victory over Karnataka, combining effective raiding with a robust defense to secure their place in the next round.

Looking ahead, Indian Railways will square off against Bihar, while Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu are set to clash in the upcoming quarterfinals.