Intense Battles Mark Day Two of the 72nd Senior Nationals Men's Kabaddi Championship
Exciting Matches Highlight Day Two in Vadodara
Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], February 25: The second day of the 72nd Senior Nationals Men's Kabaddi Championship 2026 in Vadodara showcased a mix of thrilling victories and nail-biting contests as teams vied for knockout stage spots.
In Pool A, one of the day's most exciting matches unfolded at the Sama Indoor Complex, where Andhra Pradesh narrowly defeated Telangana 47-45 in a gripping two-point finish. Pottla Gopi Chand was instrumental with 17 points, while Gali Lakshma Reddy contributed 10. Telangana's G Raju put up a commendable fight, scoring 20 points.
Later in Pool A, Haryana dominated their match against Telangana, securing a decisive 49-18 win. Neeraj Narwal led the charge with 11 points, supported by Nitin Kumar's 9 points, and both Surjeet Singh and Nitesh Kumar added 4 tackle points each.
Moving to Pool B, Madhya Pradesh achieved a thrilling 35-34 victory over Goa. Bhavani Rajput was the standout performer with 14 points, while Uday Parte added nine, helping MP maintain composure in the tense final moments.
In Pool C, Tamil Nadu continued their strong performance with a convincing 40-21 win against Vidarbha. Sathish Kannan scored eight points, and New Young Player of PKL 12, Deepak S, anchored the defense with eight tackle points, ensuring Tamil Nadu's control throughout the match.
Himachal Pradesh also shone in Pool C, defeating Gujarat 51-34. U Mumba's Anil led with 14 points, while Pappu Kamal Kumar and Mayank Saini contributed significantly. Despite Mitesh Prajapati's 13 points for Gujarat, Himachal's superior tackling and four all-outs made the difference.
In Pool D, Uttar Pradesh delivered a standout performance, crushing Manipur 70-33 with a 37-point margin. Uday Dabas was exceptional, scoring 25 points, while Sourabh added 12. UP's relentless offense, which included 53 raid points and eight all-outs, overwhelmed Manipur, despite Mayengbam Menson's impressive 18 points.
Pool F saw Kerala triumph over Chhattisgarh with a score of 45-30. Nandhu T led with 11 points, and Adithyan contributed 10, while Kerala's defense maintained control throughout the match. Sankar Mishra was the top scorer for Chhattisgarh with 10 points.
In Pool H, Delhi secured a strong 64-42 victory against Tripura. Ashish led the team with 18 points, and Himanshu Singh added 14 in a match that featured six all-outs. Tripura's A Das fought valiantly with 25 points, but Delhi's solid defense proved crucial.
As the second day concludes, the pool standings are becoming clearer, and the competition is expected to intensify as teams aim for a spot in the knockout rounds.