Pro Kabaddi: U Mumba return to winning ways
U Mumba recovered from their recent loss to Jaipur Pink Panthers with a massive 31-17 win against Bengal Warriors. They have secured top spot in the league with 10 wins and a solitary loss.
Despite the absence of star raiders Shabeer Bapu and Rishank Devadiga, the team inflicted their first all-out in as early as 19 minutes and were at a significant 20-15 lead on the completion of the first half. Captain Anup Kumar and raider Bhupinder Singh secured seven points and five points respectively, steering their team to victory at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
The Telugu Titans, who are currently placed at the second position, are closely following Mumbai’s lead with a cumulative tally of 42 points. They have won 7 matches out of the 11 that they have played with two draw matches. With 6 wins and 3 losses in the 9 matches that they have played, Bengaluru Bulls presently occupy the third position with 31 points. Patna Pirates, on the other hand, have disappointed supporters with their recent loss to Dabang Delhi by 19 points. With only 25 points and 4 matches left, the prospects of them reaching the finals seem bleak.
The second season of the league, which kick-started on July 18th at Mumbai’s SVC Stadium has garnered more viewers than last season making it a massive sporting event. With the finals rapidly approaching, the teams are all gearing up for a massive finale. For the Bombay boys, all they need is a few well-timed wins, and then, they can rest assured about their finals berth. They've had a few narrow wins in the past (against Jaipur and Hyderabad), and a good, strong finish is what the team needs to boost its confidence.
As far as the current scenario is concerned, the Mumbai and the Telugu teams seem to be strong contenders for the finals. The Bengaluru boys have five more matches to go and it is imperative for them to win these matches to reach the finals. Puneri Paltan and Bengal Warriors have displayed shoddy performances with the latter at the nadir of the league table and the former at the seventh position.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers have climbed to the fourth position with 2 consecutive wins after a series of initial losses. The fate of Dabang Delhi and Patna remains to be seen in their upcoming matches.