Ganga Kings of Mirzapur finally opened their account in the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) season 2, registering a hard-fought two-point victory over JD Noida Ninjas in the opening match of day 5 at the Noida Indoor Stadium. The contest began on even footing, with both teams trading points in the early exchanges.
First Half Action
JD Noida Ninjas gradually gained control in the first half through aggressive raiding and went into halftime holding an eight-point lead. This was largely driven by a dominant first-half performance from Rachit Yadav, who caused significant damage in attack.
Second Half Comeback
The momentum shifted decisively after the break as Ganga Kings of Mirzapur raised their intensity. A crucial super raid, which saw three players dismissed, triggered a strong comeback. Ganga followed it up by inflicting an all-out, sharply reducing the deficit and bringing the contest back into balance.
Final Stages
Buoyed by the turnaround, Ganga Kings struck again with another all-out to take a three-point lead. Their defensive unit worked cohesively in the second half, managing to keep Rachit Yadav quiet and preventing JD Noida from regaining control despite his first-half impact.
JD Noida Ninjas attempted a late fightback, but Amit Nagar answered back for Ganga Kings with timely raids that helped maintain the narrow advantage in the closing stages. Ganga Kings held their nerve in the dying moments to seal a much-needed victory.
The final score was 44 – 42, marking a significant response from Ganga Kings of Mirzapur after three consecutive defeats. They showcased resilience and fighting spirit to register their first win of the season.
Upcoming Matches
Action on day 5 of UPKL Season 2 continued later in the day, with Lucknow Lions taking on Kanpur Warriors, Yamuna Yoddhas facing Purvanchal Panthers, and Brij Stars meeting Sangam Challengers in the remaining matches.