Defending champions Haryana, along with Railways and Madhya Pradesh registered commanding victories on the opening day of the 71st Senior National Kabaddi Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Thursday.
Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) stars like Pawan Sehrawat, Ashu Malik, Mohit Goyat, Sunil Kumar and Naveen kumar are among the marquee players representing their states.
The championship features 30 teams divided into eight pools in the preliminary stage. Teams must top their respective pools to advance to the knockout rounds, ensuring intense competition from the outset.
Haryana demonstrated its superiority with PKL stalwarts Ashu Malik and Mohit Goyat at the forefront, securing a decisive 50-20 victory over Telangana.
Indian Railways, featuring PKL 11 finalists Shubham Shinde and M Sudhakar, delivered a clinical performance in Pool B, overwhelming Manipur 59-17 with their experience and skill.
In Pool C’s thriller, Maharashtra, led by PKL Season 10 champion Akash Shinde, emerged victorious in a closely contested battle against Kerala 39-35.
PKL superstar Pawan Sehrawat guided Chandigarh to a 40-24 comfortable victory against Gujarat in Pool D, showcasing his trademark raiding excellence.
Madhya Pradesh’s impressive display against Andhra Pradesh 59-35 in Pool D, highlighted their title credentials with aggressive gameplay.
Odisha dominated the Pool F encounter against Vidharbha 57-28, with young PKL sensation Rohit Raghav leading the charge. The host state’s commanding 29-point victory set a strong tone for the campaign.
