The opening day of the 71st Senior National Kabaddi Championships witnessed commanding performances across multiple pools, as Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)
stars showcased their prowess at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here.
The prestigious tournament has drawn together an impressive array of talent, including several PKL heroes who are set to battle it out for national glory.
Stars like Pawan Sehrawat, Ashu Malik, Mohit Goyat, Sunil Kumar and Naveen kumar are among the marquee players representing their states.
The championship features 30 teams divided into eight pools in the preliminary stage. Teams must top their respective pools to advance to the knockout rounds, ensuring intense competition from the outset.
The host state Odisha dominated their Pool F encounter against Vidharbha, with young PKL sensation Rohit Raghav leading the charge on Thursday. Odisha’s commanding 29-point victory
set a strong tone for their campaign.
The defending champions Haryana demonstrated their superiority with PKL stalwarts Ashu Malik
and Mohit Goyat at the forefront, securing a decisive victory over Telangana.
Indian Railways, featuring PKL 11 finalists Shubham Shinde and M Sudhakar, delivered a clinical performance in Pool B, overwhelming Manipur with their experience and skill.
In Pool C’s thriller, Maharashtra, led by PKL Season 10 champion Akash Shinde, emerged victorious in a closely contested battle against Kerala.
PKL superstar Pawan Sehrawat guided Chandigarh to a comfortable victory in Pool D, showcasing his trademark raiding excellence.
The day concluded with Madhya Pradesh’s impressive display against Andhra Pradesh in Pool D, highlighting their title credentials with aggressive gameplay.
