Lucknow: UP Yoddha's wait for a win on home turf in Pro Kabaddi Season 5 continued as they lost their third successive game at home on Sunday, this time at the hands of Jaipur Pink Panthers at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium in Lucknow. Jaipur started the match bereft of their captain and all-rounder Manjeet Chhillar who was nursing an injury, with Jasvir Singh standing in. But the former champions managed to effect an All-Out in the final minute to seal the match, bouncing back from a four-point deficit just five minutes before to win a low-scoring encounter 24-22 It was defender Nitin Rawal who rattled the home side in the closing stages as his two successive raids claimed Yoddha skipper Nitin Tomar and Rishank Devadiga, leaving Lucknow flustered in the final minutes. In the first half, Panthers' Tushar Patil was in the thick of things. His super raid early on laid the foundation for a three-point lead for Jaipur by the ninth minute. But Lucknow hit back minutes later when Patil got super tackled. From there on it was pretty much even as the score read 11-10 in the home side's favour at the break. In the second half, Lucknow managed to build a four-point lead courtesy of Devadiga and a strong defensive display that included consuming Jasvir in a super tackle. But after that the nerves got to the Yoddha, seeing them collapse under pressure. Star raider Tomar failed to shine once again, while on the Jaipur side it was the all-round display from Patil, Rawal (five points each), and Jasvir with four points that turned the game in their favour. UP Yoddha get a day's rest to regroup before they play Bengal Warriors next on Tuesday, while Jaipur Pink Panthers face U. Mumba on Aug. 25.
Yesterday’s Results
