UPKL Season 2 Updates: The fourth day of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) Season 2 produced a compelling mix of close finishes and dominant displays at the Noida Indoor Stadium, with young talent and experienced performers stepping up across four matches.
Purvanchal Panthers pulled off a dramatic 38-37 victory over Aligarh Tigers in a closely fought opening match of the day.
Aligarh Tigers started strongly with disciplined defence, forcing an early all-out to take control of the contest. Purvanchal Panthers regrouped quickly and responded with an all-out effort of their own to bring the scores level. Young raider Himesh Tewatiya played a key role in the comeback, showing composure under pressure and briefly helping Purvanchal take a one-point lead.
Aligarh Tigers recovered after being wiped out and went into halftime holding a two-point advantage, setting up a tense second half. After the break, momentum continued to swing both ways, with Aligarh forcing another all-out before Purvanchal responded immediately through resolute defence to regain the lead. Himesh continued to apply pressure in the raiding department, while Purvanchal’s defensive unit stepped up at crucial moments.
With the match remaining unpredictable until the final raid, Purvanchal Panthers held their nerve to clinch a narrow one-point victory. Himesh Tewatiya’s performance once again highlighted the importance of the UPKL as a competitive platform that provides opportunities for young and emerging players to showcase their talent at a high level.
Sangam Challengers underline strength with dominant win over Yamuna Yoddhas
The second match of the day saw Sangam Challengers deliver a commanding display, registering a 52-29 victory over Yamuna Yoddhas.
Sangam asserted control from the opening exchanges, dominating proceedings through aggressive raiding and coordinated team play. The gap on the scoreboard widened steadily as Sangam maintained pressure and denied Yamuna any sustained momentum.
Pankaj Thakur led the attack with 13 raid points, including 11 successful raids and two bonus points, consistently breaching the Yamuna defence. Sangam’s depth was evident as Gautam Singh contributed 10 raid points, while Harshit added nine, ensuring constant scoring pressure.
Yamuna Yoddhas fought back through Ritik Sharma, who finished with 15 points, but the lack of support and Sangam’s overall control meant the margin continued to grow. The result further reinforced Sangam Challengers’ credentials as one of the most consistent sides, reflecting why they finished as runners-up last season.
Brij Stars hold nerve to edge Gazab Ghaziabad in tight contest
The third match of the day produced another nail-biting finish, with Brij Stars defeating Gazab Ghaziabad 35-33 in a closely contested encounter.
Brij Stars created a crucial advantage by inflicting two all-outs, allowing them to build a narrow cushion. Gazab Ghaziabad, however, showed strong resilience and mounted a determined comeback in the latter stages. Captain Uday Dabas, who had been kept relatively quiet for large parts of the match by Brij’s disciplined defence, produced a crucial super raid in the closing moments to reduce the margin to just one point and keep Gazab in contention.
With Brij Stars holding a slender lead, the final raid proved decisive. A mistimed early tackle attempt by Gazab prevented the match from going into a tie-break, allowing Brij Stars to close out a hard-fought two-point victory.
Kashi Kings deny Awadh Ramdoots late comeback to secure narrow win
The final match of the day saw Kashi Kings edge past Awadh Ramdoots 34-32 in another tightly fought contest.
Kashi Kings dominated the early phase through aggressive raiding and organised defence, which resulted in one all-out and an early advantage. They controlled the tempo in the first half, forcing Awadh Ramdoots to chase the game. Awadh Ramdoots mounted a strong comeback in the second half, led by a determined defensive performance from Ravi Bhati, who executed four super tackles to keep his side in contention. Despite the late surge, Awadh fell short in the closing minutes.
Kashi Kings managed the final phase effectively, with Arjun Sirohi and Varun combining for 18 points, consistently breaching the Awadh defence at key moments to secure a narrow but well-earned victory.