Vadodara, Feb 27 (NationPress) The Indian Railways triumphed at the 72nd Senior Men’s National Kabaddi Championship Trophy on Friday, clinching the title at the Sama Indoor Stadium in Vadodara by defeating Maharashtra 49–31 in the final match.

Under the leadership of Sunil Kumar, the most decorated captain of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), the Railways showcased their dominance over 29 competing teams split into eight pools, playing a total of 54 matches within four intense days.

On their path to the final, the Railways overcame formidable opponents such as Chandigarh and Karnataka before facing a resilient Maharashtra team led by Aslam Inamdar, a standout player in the PKL.

The tournament's final day featured four teams, kicking off with two semifinal matches: Uttar Pradesh against Maharashtra, and Indian Railways versus Chandigarh.

Following their semifinal victories, Railways and Maharashtra met in the final, where Railways delivered an exceptional all-around performance. Pankaj Mohite spearheaded the raiding efforts with 12 raid points, while Ashu Malik, who also guided Dabang Delhi K.C. to victory in PKL 12, contributed eight points.

The Railways' defensive unit effectively supported the raiders, achieving 14 tackle points and maintaining relentless pressure on Maharashtra throughout the match. Despite the efforts of Shivam Patare and Aslam Inamdar, Maharashtra found it challenging to keep pace with Railways, who decisively secured the championship with an 18-point lead.

In the first semifinal, Maharashtra convincingly defeated Uttar Pradesh 49-36, controlling the match with Aditya Shinde leading the raiders with 12 points. Both Aslam Inamdar and Shivam Patare added to the score with 11 and 8 points, respectively.

Maharashtra's defense was crucial in their semifinal win, ending with 14 tackle points compared to Uttar Pradesh's eight, who struggled throughout the contest.

The second semifinal saw Indian Railways and Chandigarh lock horns in a thrilling 38–38 draw, with Railways advancing after a 7-4 win in the tie-breaker. Ashu Malik emerged as the standout performer for Railways, scoring 10 points, alongside Narender Kandola who also contributed 10 points.

Chandigarh's strong raiding led by Pawan Sehrawat, who scored 12 points, and Rakesh Singroha with seven points, kept them competitive.

Bhavani Rajput from Goa finished as the top raider of the tournament with 58 points from 81 raids, while Shubham Shinde from the champion team led the tackle standings with 27 points.