An impressive game of Kabaddi

The young and well-built members of Vidyanjaneya, a body building association from Ullal, won the first match of the Mangalore Dasara Kabaddi tournament against the members of the Ajeya Motuguli team. However, the latter gave a good fight to the Vidyanjaneya team, who moved to the next round of the tournament.

This was among the few closely contested floodlit matches in the tournament held at the Urva Market grounds on Tuesday. The tournament was jointly organised by the Mangalore City Corporation and the Dakshina Kannada Amateur Kabaddi Association.

The Vidyanjaneya team led by Mangalore University Kabaddi player Yatin Kumar Ullal established a handsome lead with nine points against one point secured by the Ajeya Motuguli in the first 10 minutes of the match. Ajeya Motuguli came back strongly in the next 10 minutes securing 10 points and taking their score to 11, while the Vidyanjaneya team added four points to take the score to 13.

“We just drifted from the match and allowed them to come close to us,” remarked Yatin Kumar Ullal, who is a student of Narayanaguru College.

In the second half the Vidyanjaneya Team consolidated their lead to take their score to 20. Ajeya Motuguli team, which comprised students and amateurs such as vegetable seller Shahnawaz, could garner only four more points. “Yes we are disappointed, but we are impressed with the fight,” said Shahnawaz.

Sixteen men’s and four women’s teams are playing in the event. “This is the first time women’s teams are participating,” said Purushottam Pujari, association secretary.