Noida, Jan 9 (IANS) Awadh Ramdoots came up with a dominant performance to defeat Purvanchal Panthers 47–33 on the final day of the Do-or-Die Week in Season 2 of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) at the Noida Indoor Stadium in Noida on Friday. With both teams already out of the race for the top four, the contest was about pride, momentum, and finishing the league stage on a strong note.
The match began cautiously, with both sides testing each other in the opening minutes. Awadh Ramdoots gradually found their rhythm through captain Abhimanyu Raghuvanshi, who consistently troubled the Purvanchal defence with sharp raids. At the other end, Awadh’s defensive unit stepped up with equal authority, producing timely tackles that restricted Purvanchal’s scoring opportunities.
The turning point of the first half came when Awadh Ramdoots tightened their defensive formation and inflicted an all-out on Purvanchal Panthers, opening up a sizeable gap on the scoreboard. Building on that momentum, Awadh continued to apply pressure and forced another all-out before halftime, stretching their advantage to 20 points and taking firm control of the contest.
Purvanchal Panthers showed greater intent after the break and managed to inflict an all-out on Awadh Ramdoots in the second half, briefly raising hopes of a comeback. However, the early damage proved too much to undo. Awadh responded calmly, managing the tempo of the game and ensuring Purvanchal were unable to mount any sustained pressure.
With their raiders continuing to score consistently and the defence holding firm in key moments, Awadh Ramdoots comfortably closed out the match with a 47–33 victory, signing off their league campaign with an emphatic performance.
The Day 16 action continued with matches between Ganga Kings of Mirzapur and Sangam Challengers, Lucknow Lions and Gazab Ghaziabad, and Aligarh Tigers and Brij Stars.
These encounters were set to play a decisive role in finalising the top four, as UPKL Season 2 moves into the knockout stage. As per the league format, the team finishing first will face the fourth-ranked side, while the second-placed team will take on the third-ranked team in the semi-finals, with the winners advancing to battle for the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League Season 2 trophy.
Earlier, Day 15 of UPKL Season 2 delivered decisive results as the Do-or-Die Week peaked. Brij Stars produced a crucial second-half turnaround to defeat league leaders Lucknow Lions 44–34, forcing back-to-back all-outs after halftime to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Aligarh Tigers closed their campaign on a positive note with a 48–43 win over Yamuna Yodhas, holding off a late comeback through a decisive super raid by Kunal Bhati. The day ended emphatically as Kashi Kings thrashed JD Noida Ninjas 62–32, inflicting four all-outs and strengthening their top-four position. With one league matchday remaining, the race for the playoffs is set for a dramatic finish.
–IANS
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