Vijayawada, Aug 20 (NationPress) On the fifth day of the Yuva Andhra Championship 2025, an essential precursor to the Telugu Kabaddi League, the action at the Chennupati Ramakotaiah Municipal Corporation Indoor Stadium showcased both gripping matches and commanding performances. The Kurnool Knights achieved victory twice, while the Amravati Crushers, Vizag Commandos, and Bhimavaram Guardians also claimed wins, altering the tournament standings. With these achievements, Kurnool has regained the lead in Pool A, while Amravati continues their unbeaten journey in Pool B.

The day kicked off with an electrifying match as Kurnool Knights narrowly defeated the Bhimavaram Guardians 46-45. Kurnool seemed set for a comfortable win, but the Guardians rallied impressively in the concluding moments, closing the gap to a mere point.

V Durga Prasanth was instrumental for Kurnool, scoring 13 points, while Kunchala Srikanth contributed 7 points across both offensive and defensive plays. On the other hand, Abilash Reddy led the Guardians with 19 raid points, and substitute RH Rahul added 6 tackle points, but their efforts fell short.

The momentum shifted to Pool B in the afternoon match, where the Amravati Crushers solidified their dominance with a high-scoring 61-54 victory over the Tirupati Raiders. Potla Gopi Chand spearheaded the attack, amassing 16 raid and 2 tackle points, while Kolamgari Rambabu added 12 raid points and Ankalu Jampana achieved a remarkable High 5.

Despite R Sai Sankar’s commendable effort for Tirupati, scoring 20 raid and 3 tackle points, the Raiders struggled to keep pace with Amravati's comprehensive team performance.

In the third match, the Vizag Commandos triumphed over the Krishna Defenders by a score of 49-36. Both Nolli Theja and Durga Prasad achieved Super 10s, while Rayi Narendra anchored the defense with 7 tackle points.

Krishna's resilience shone through G Lakshma Reddy, who scored 17 raid points, yet the lack of additional support proved detrimental.

The fourth encounter provided much-needed relief for the Bhimavaram Guardians, who rebounded from their earlier defeat to edge past the Kakinada Kraken 35-32. Abilash Reddy was pivotal again, scoring 11 raid and 1 tackle point, while Venkata Durga Rao contributed 8 raid and 2 tackle points. For the Kraken, Varri Mahesh managed 10 raid and 1 tackle point, but it was not enough to avert another defeat.

Concluding the day was a crucial match in Pool A, where the Kurnool Knights decisively overcame the Vizianagaram Ninjas 42-26, reclaiming their top position. Pelleti Brahmareddy led the raiding efforts with 15 points, receiving solid support from his teammates. The Ninjas struggled, with Chekka Nagababu scoring 12 raid points, but a lack of contributions from others hindered their performance in the second half.

These outcomes have dramatically altered the standings in Pool A, with the Kurnool Knights rising to the top with 24 points after six matches, just ahead of the Vizianagaram Ninjas at 23 points. The Bhimavaram Guardians improved to 16 points, while the Kakinada Kraken lingered at the bottom with 9. In Pool B, Amravati Crushers maintained their unbeaten streak, leading with 29 points from five consecutive victories, followed by Vizag Commandos with 18, Tirupati Raiders with 8, and Krishna Defenders at 5.