U Mumba begin their Pro Kabaddi League 2023 campaign with a 34-31 win against UP Yoddhas on 2nd December 2023.
U Mumba’s Iranian raider Amimohamed Zafardanesh impressed with 11 raid points. Defender Rinku meanwhile scored 7 tackle points as they starred for the team in the victory.
Earlier in the day, Sonu Jaglan emerged as the hero for the Gujarat Giants. He picked up 11 raid points and changed the course of the match as he helped the team kick-start their PKL 2023 campaign with a win. Playing in front of their home crowd, the Giants came from behind to register a 38-32 victory against Pawan Sehrawat’s Telugu Titans.
Gujarat vs Telugu Titans
The match began with Telugu Titans in the lead at 4-3 in the opening minutes. However, the Giants fought back and levelled the scores at 5-5 in the 7th minute. The Titans however inched ahead and by the end of 10 minutes, they were leading 8-6.
The Telugu Titans maintained their lead and by the end of 15 minutes, Gujarat Giants were reduced to just two men on the mat. The two men standing were Iranian duo of Fazel Atrachali and Mohammad Nabibakhsh. They showcased their class by tackling Pawan Sehrawat to help their team stay in the contest at 12-9.
Soon, Fazel Atrachali pulled off another super tackle on Pawan Sehrawat and levelled the scores at 13-13. However, the Titans managed to clinch the lead at 16-13 by the end of the first half.
In the second-hald, Giants introduced Sonu into the attack. In his very first raid, he pulled off a Super Raid. Five Telugu Titans defenders were out as the home team reclaimed the lead at 18-16. Reduced to just two men, the Titans were soon All Out in the 23rd minute and the Giants took a big 22-18 lead.
From then on, it was a task for the Titans to get back the lead. Giants however maintained the momentum. Sourav Gulia tackled Robin Chaudhary to help his team inflict another All Out in the 38th minute. The home side continued to keep the lead and walked away as winners.
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U Mumba vs UP Yoddhas
U Mumba were in the lead in the lead in the contest right from the start. They were successful in keeping the dangerous UP Yoddhas raiding unit at bay. YP Yoddhas captain Pardeep had a slow start as he was unable to score any points in the first-half.
U Mumba’s Amirmohammed meanwhile dazzled with his raids and coupled with Rinku’s defence, they finished the first-half with a five-point lead with the score at 19-14.
The U.P. Yoddhas started off with a Super Tackle in the first half. They started to claw their way back and managed to inflict an all out on U Mumba. UP Yoddhas continued to score points and Nitin Panwar’s tackle on Guman Singh helped them reduce the deficit to just a solitary point.
With 5 minutes to go, Surinder Gill failed to make a Do or Die raid count, and allowing U Mumba some breathing space, who surged into a 4-point lead. Eventually, the U.P. Yoddhas weren’t able to mount a comeback and U Mumba came away with a comfortable win.
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