PKL Season 11: Gagan Gowda Shines for UP Yoddhas in a Vital Victory Against Puneri Paltan

Pune, Dec 7 (NationPress) Gagan Gowda continued to excel for the UP Yoddhas in Season 11 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), steering his team to a significant victory against the Puneri Paltan at the Badminton Hall in the Balewadi Sports Complex on Saturday. Gowda scored 15 points, leading the UP Yoddhas to a 36-33 win. Pankaj Mohite was the top scorer for the Puneri Paltan with 11 points.

The in-form Gowda propelled the UP Yoddhas to an early lead, supported well by his defenders. However, the Puneri Paltan, spurred on by their home crowd, had their captain Akash Shinde making notable contributions in the early exchanges. Just after the five-minute mark, Gowda executed a Super Raid, securing three crucial points.

The initial ten minutes of the match were filled with action as both teams sought quick scores. Midway through the first half, the UP Yoddhas had gained a four-point advantage. Shortly thereafter, the UP Yoddhas managed to execute an All Out on the Puneri Paltan, extending their lead significantly.

As the first half progressed, every player in the UP Yoddhas' starting lineup contributed points, with Gowda, Bhavani Rajput, Hitesh, and Sumit leading the scoring. Conversely, the Puneri Paltan struggled to find their rhythm. At halftime, the UP Yoddhas held a commanding lead of 21-11.

The second half began with the UP Yoddhas maintaining their momentum, as their tall raiders made significant strides ahead of the Puneri Paltan. Although the defending champions managed to thwart some key attacks, including a Super Tackle by Mohit Goyat on Gowda, the gap had narrowed to five points.

Suddenly, the Puneri Paltan appeared revitalized, with Pankaj Mohite, Mohit Goyat, and Aryavardhan Navale spearheading their comeback, turning the tide of the match. At the thirty-minute mark, the competition was fierce, with only a five-point gap separating the teams.

As the game approached its final minutes, Gagan Gowda achieved his Super 10. Despite Pankaj Mohite's best efforts for the Puneri Paltan, Gowda's performance proved decisive. Although the Puneri Paltan made a strong push, they ultimately fell short against the UP Yoddhas.