Haryana crowned Senior Women's National Kabaddi champions
Hyderabad, January 30
Haryana came from behind to clinch the title at the 72nd Women's Senior National Kabaddi Championship with a narrow 39-37 victory over defending champions Indian Railways in a closely fought final at the Balayogi Stadium on Friday.
The final lived up to expectations, with both teams trading momentum through the two halves. Haryana edged ahead in the closing stages to secure the win, producing a composed performance under pressure to claim the championship, as per a press release.
Nikita once again emerged as the standout performer for Haryana, leading the scoring with 17 points through a combination of touch and bonus points. Ruchi provided strong support with nine points, while Raj Rani contributed across raids to keep Haryana in control during key phases of the match.
For Indian Railways, Pooja was the top scorer with 11 points, while another strong all-round contribution came from Pooja and Sonali Shingate, who added six points each. Despite a disciplined defensive effort and a late push, Railways fell just short in a final decided by fine margins.
Haryana's road to the title featured consistent performances across the knockout stages. After defeating Madhya Pradesh convincingly in the quarterfinals, Haryana overcame pre-tournament favourites Himachal Pradesh in a tight semifinal before delivering another composed display in the final to secure the championship.
Indian Railways, meanwhile, showcased their experience and depth throughout the tournament. They progressed to the final with commanding wins over Maharashtra in the quarterfinals and Tamil Nadu in the semifinals, underlining their status as one of the most consistent sides in the competition before narrowly missing out in the title clash.
The two losing semifinalists, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, were awarded bronze medals in recognition of their performances at the 72nd Women's Senior National Kabaddi Championship.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Tough luck for Railways, they fought brilliantly till the end. Pooja's performance was top class. But full marks to Haryana for holding their nerve. These close finals are what make kabaddi so exciting to watch. Hope the matches were televised!
Congratulations Haryana! As someone from the state, this is a moment of great pride. Our girls have been working so hard. The article mentions the "composed performance under pressure" – that's the Haryana spirit for you. Chak De Haryana!
While the coverage of the final is good, I wish the article gave a bit more context. How many teams participated? What's the history of this championship? A little more background would help newer fans like me appreciate the achievement even more.
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Nikita, Ruchi, Raj Rani – take a bow! Beating the defending champions and pre-tournament favourites shows this was no fluke. The future of women's kabaddi in India is in safe hands. Hope these athletes get the recognition and support they deserve.
Heartbreaking for Railways, they are such a strong unit. But that's sport. Kudos to both teams for such a close match. Also, great to see Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu getting bronze. Shows the talent is spreading across the country. 🇮🇳
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