Puneri Paltan created history by winning the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) title for the first time in 10 years. The team defeated Haryana Steelers by a margin of 28-25 in the final on Friday. The match was played at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad.
Puneri Paltan had made it to the second consecutive final. The team lost to Jaipur last season but this time the team became champion on the basis of its all-round performance. On the other hand, Haryana team was playing the title match for the first time but the team lost.
Pankaj Mohite from Pune collected 9 raid points in the low-scoring thriller. He also scored 4 points in a super raid, which made the difference in winning or losing in the final. Apart from them, Mohit Goyat got 5 raid points, Gaurav Khatri and captain Aslam Inamdar got 4 raid points each.
In raiding from Haryana Steelers, Shivam Patare scored 6 points and Siddharth Desai scored 4 points. But both the players did not get the support of the rest of the raiders in the team.
The match started on a draw. The scoreline was tied at 6-6 for 12 minutes. Although Pune took the lead in the 16th minute, in the 18th minute itself, Pankaj Mohite made a super raid in a do or die raid and collected 4 points. Haryana somehow avoided being all out but the score went 13-7 in favor of Pune. Haryana made a comeback and made the score 13-10 at half time.
As soon as the second half started, Haryana was all out and Pune got a lead of 18-11. Till the 30th minute the score was 21-16 and till the 36th minute the score was 28-20.
Haryana then fielded star player Siddharth Desai, he quickly took 4 points and brought his team back into the match. But Haryana delayed in bringing Siddharth. Due to which the match ended with the scoreline of 28-25 and Pune won the title.
Puneri Paltan got prize money of Rs 3 crore. Runner-up team Haryana Steelers also won Rs 1.80 crore.
Pro-Kabaddi League started in July 2014. Jaipur Pink Panthers team won the title of the first season under the captaincy of Navneet Gautam. In the second season, U Mumba under the captaincy of Anoop Kumar became the champion.
Patna Pirates lifted the title in the third season and the team scored a title hat-trick by winning 3 consecutive finals. Apart from these, Bengal Warriors, Bengaluru Bulls, Dabang Delhi and Puneri Paltan have also won the title 1 time each. Jaipur Pink Panthers has become champion twice.
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