Pro Kabaddi: Puneri Paltan open their account with 33-29 win over Bengal Warriors
Puneri Paltan registered their first win of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi with a 33-29 win over Bengal Warriors. Pravin Newale starred for the Paltans as the Warriors suffered their 4th loss in a row on the final day of the Jaipur leg of the tournament.
The team lying at the bottom of the Pro Kabaddi table took a 2-point lead courtesy of successful raids by Wazir Singh and Surender Singh. The team from Kolkata not only equalised, but took the lead, 4-3, in the 6th minute.
Dinesh Kumar was having an off day and it took him 7 raids to get his first point of the match in the 14th minute to tie the score at 8-a-piece. The Paltans went from strength to strength and restored their lead at 9-8, 2 minutes later.
The team from Maharashtra were leading by just 1 point with 2 minutes to go in the half, when they established a healthy 7-point lead, getting their opponents all out in the process. Pravin Newale conjured up a super raid in the process, returning after tagging 3 points, while Wazir Singh delivered the knockout blow as Pune led 17-10 at half-time.
Too little, too late for Bengal Warriors
The second half started on a slow note with both the teams exchanging points in the first 4 minutes. The Ashok Shinde coached side put their foot on the gas to extend their lead even further in the next 5 minutes. Pravin Newale and Wazir Singh starred for the Paltans as they inflicted another all out on the Warriors in the 29th minute to help their team lead 28-14.
Just when it looked like Puneri Paltan would run away with the match, Bengal Warriors roared back in the match and in style. Captain Dinesh Kumar got 3 points in his 3 raids, getting the Paltans all out with 6 minutes to go in the match as the Warriors trailed by just 6 points. The Paltans’ lead was reduced to 3 points with the final minute to go.
However, it was an anti-climactic end to the match as Jang Kun Lee was caught out in the penultimate raid, while Paltans’ Surender Singh returned with an empty raid to ensure Puneri Paltan emerged victorious 33-29. This was Pune’s first win this season, their first in 11 matches.
Man of the match: Pravin Newale