Telugu Titans overcame Puneri Paltan’s challenge to emerge a 28-25 winner in a ProKabaddi League Inter-zone challenge match at the NSCI stadium here on Tuesday.
Titans functioned like a well-oiled unit with raiders Rahul Chaudhari (8 points) and Nilesh Salunkhe (6) playing to their strength and the catchers shifting to draw the rivals into a trap before closing in. Krishna Madane (4) and Abozar Mighani (3) used their grip and skills to deadly effect.
The inter-zone clash pitted the second-placed side from Zone A, Paltan, against the fifth-placed team from Zone B, Titans. The former banked on experience gained over 13 matches this season, while the latter was into just its eighth game. Mohsen Maghsoudlou, one of three Iranians in the Titans line-up, got trapped in a Super Tackle.
Paltan catchers were in rousing form, pulling off three Super Tackles in the first half with raiders Rahul Chaudhari and Nilesh Salunkhe the victims, but were always playing catch up. Titans proved to be efficient in both attacking and defensive roles which resulted in a 17-11 lead at the breather.
Paltan’s Sandeep Narwal, Akshay Jadhav, Monu strove hard and the team gained rhythm towards the close, as a confident Titans relaxed a bit. The result lifted the victors to second position in Zone B, while Paltan remains second.
The result: Inter-Zone Challenge: Telugu Titans 28 (Rahul Chaudhari 8) bt Puneri Paltan 25 (Sandeep Narwal 7) .
