Kabaddi Nationals Semis Set After Thrilling Upsets & High-Scoring Matches

Former India captain Rishank Devadiga believes the final four will reflect the dominance shown so far. "There have been quite a few exceptional performances this time around in the National Championships. We have witnessed a few surprises along the way and as expected, the knockout stages were unpredictable based on the matches so far," Rishank said.

The results have backed that assessment as the pre-quarterfinals and quarters were witness to some excellent results. Tamil Nadu advanced to the quarters by defeating the mighty teams Haryana in a tie-breaker, after both teams ended the contest with a score of 35-35 tie.

Post that, Uttar Pradesh caused a major upset by defeating defending champions Services 55-51 to advance to the semi-finals. Arjun Deshwal, who also captains Tamil Thalaivas in the Pro Kabaddi League, starred for Uttar Pradesh with an impressive 19-point haul.

Against this backdrop of dominant wins and high-pressure finishes, Rishank stressed that the semi-finals will test temperament as much as talent. "The performance of the players in the pre-quarter final and quarter final is where we can judge what that player and team can do. There are a lot of coaches and scouts who have come to watch the matches. They will know which players should be kept an eye on. It's a very good opportunity for the youngsters," he said.

The early rounds have already produced 50-point margins, 59-point demolitions, 37-point thrashings and nail-biting one-point wins. If that trend continues, the semi-finals on 27 February promise to deliver the most explosive chapter yet in Vadodara.

- IANS