The knockout stages of the 71st Senior National Kabaddi Championships kicked off with four compelling Round of 16 clashes at Cuttack’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, setting up two mouth-watering quarterfinal encounters.
Defending champions Haryana, which was guided by star Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) players like defender Yogesh Kathuniya and raider Ashu Malik were pushed hard by Tamil Nadu in what proved to be the most competitive fixture of the day. Despite Tamil Nadu’s spirited resistance, Haryana’s superior raiding unit helped them secure a 48-41 victory in a high-scoring encounter.
The Naveen Kumar-led Services demonstrated why they remain one of the tournament favourites with a clinical dismantling of Madhya Pradesh.
The servicemen’s disciplined defence and aggressive raiding combination proved too much for Madhya Pradesh to handle, resulting in a commanding 57-22 scoreline.
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Punjab, another kabaddi powerhouse, made light work of Bihar with a dominant 47-18 victory. Its experienced squad controlled the proceedings from start to finish, barely allowing Bihar any momentum throughout the match.
Host state Odisha’s campaign came to an end as it fell to Maharashtra 43-26. Despite vocal home support, Maharashtra had guidance from the likes of Akash Shinde, Ajit Chouhan and Pankaj Mohite showed through as they steadily built their lead to secure a comfortable win.
Haryana will face Services, while Maharashtra will look to continue their impressive form against Punjab in the quarterfinal.
