Panthers completely played their cards in the last seconds of the match and won their second Pro Kabaddi League title. file | Photo credit: The Hindu
Jaipur Pink Panthers won the title of Pro Kabaddi League Season 9 by defeating Puneri Paltan 33-29 in the title match here on Saturday.
V Ajith, Sunil Kumar and Arjun Deshwal emerged as the best players for Jaipur with six points each on the night.
Pankaj Mohite’s brilliant raid in the opening minutes of the match saw Puneri Paltan take a 3-1 lead.
However, the Jaipur team fought back and leveled the scores at 3-3. But Gaurav Khatri tackled Arjun Deshwal and helped the Pune side take a 5-4 lead in the ninth minute.
Thereafter, V Ajith stepped up his game and Jaipur leveled the score at 6-6. Both sides played a neck-and-neck battle until Mohammad Nabibakhsh picked up a raid and a tackle point in quick succession to help Pune take a 10-8 lead in the 16th minute.
However, Ajit caught Sanket Sawant and Gaurav Khatri to give Jaipur a 12-10 lead in the 19th minute. By half time the Panthers had a 14-12 lead.
Panthers tackled Aditya Shinde and got all out in the 22nd minute to lead 18-13. However, Akash Shinde pulled off a multi-point raid and Pune soon found Ajit within touching distance of Jaipur’s score at 17-18.
But Ankush faced Akash Shinde and helped the Panthers move ahead. Aditya Shinde caught Ankush and Sahul Kumar to keep Pune in the match 20-23.
But Jaipur captain Sunil Kumar pulled off some brilliant tackle points in the 34th minute to retain the lead at 27-22.
However, the Pune team did not give up and tackled Deshwal in the 38th minute to stay in the match at 25-29.
Thereafter, Badal Singh made a tackle on V Ajit and Aditya Shinde made a raid, but Paltan still could not find a way to level the scores as the Panthers took a 31-29 lead going into the dying moments of the game.
Panthers completely played their cards in the last seconds of the match and won their second Pro Kabaddi League title.