PKL Season 11: UP Yoddhas Crush Gujarat Giants, Surge Towards Top Two Position
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Pune, Dec 19 (NationPress) Gagan Gowda emerged as the standout performer as the UP Yoddhas showcased an impressive display against the Gujarat Giants, clinching a resounding 59-23 victory in a Season 11 encounter of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) at the Badminton Hall of the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Thursday.
Gowda notched a game-high 19 points, while Bhavani Rajput achieved a Super 10 and Sumit contributed a High-5, culminating in a convincing performance for the UP Yoddhas and extending their unbeaten streak to eight matches. The game commenced with quick exchanges as Guman Singh and Gowda put points on the board for their respective teams. It didn't take long for Rakesh to execute the first Super Raid, quickly matched by Gowda, who completed a Super Raid of his own.
The UP Yoddhas began to dominate as Bhavani Rajput found his rhythm in the match. A successful tackle by Sumit enabled them to inflict the first All-Out, establishing a five-point lead with the score at 12-7. Gowda then became the highlight, achieving his Super 10 in the first half, as the UP Yoddhas shifted into a higher gear, creating significant distance between the two teams.
With contributions from Mahender Singh, Bharat, Hitesh, and Sumit, they limited the Gujarat Giants to just four points in the last ten minutes of the half, allowing the UP Yoddhas to finish a dominant first half with a score of 29-11.
The UP Yoddhas displayed a defensive masterclass, with Ashu Malik initiating the second half with the first successful tackle. Bhavani Rajput executed a successful Do-Or-Die Raid, followed by another tackle from Sumit that inflicted another All Out on the Gujarat Giants.
A Super Tackle by Jitender Yadav provided some solace for the Gujarat Giants in the second half, but the UP Yoddhas remained relentless. They denied their rivals any chance to recover, inflicting a third All Out, pushing the score to 47-16. They crossed the 50-point threshold with less than seven minutes left in the match, and Bhavani Rajput recorded a Super 10.
Guman Singh displayed some resilience for the Gujarat Giants alongside Jitender Yadav, who achieved his High-5. Nonetheless, it was the UP Yoddhas who comfortably secured the victory, concluding the match with a score of 59-23, significantly enhancing their chances for a top-two finish.
