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UPKL Season 2 Kicks Off: Noida Ninjas Edge Kanpur Warriors in Thriller

The Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League's second season is off to an exciting start. The Noida Ninjas claimed the first win by narrowly defeating the Kanpur Warriors 39-36. A big crowd created a fantastic atmosphere for this opening-night thriller. The season features 12 teams and several international players competing across 69 matches.

Key Points: Noida Ninjas Beat Kanpur Warriors in UPKL Season 2 Opener

  • Noida Ninjas secured a narrow 39-36 victory in a closely fought opening match
  • Kanpur Warriors showed strength with 36 points from raids, tackles, and bonuses
  • The match drew a large, energetic crowd cheering for both teams at Noida Indoor Stadium
  • League start was delayed a day due to Supreme Court pollution control directives
2 min read

UPKL Season 2: Noida Ninjas defeat Kanpur Warriors in opening match

Noida Ninjas win a nail-biting 39-36 match against Kanpur Warriors to start UPKL Season 2. Get scores, highlights, and league details here.

"The league was originally scheduled to begin on 24 December, but the start was deferred by one day following directions related to pollution control. - Sambhav Jain, Founder & Director, SJ Uplift Kabaddi"

Noida, Dec 25

Noida Ninjas made a winning start in Season 2 of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL), which commenced on Thursday at the Noida Indoor Stadium, marking an exciting start to the new season.

In the opening match of the season, JD Noida Ninjas defeated Kanpur Warriors by a narrow margin of 39-36 in a closely contested encounter on Thursday evening.

Kanpur Warriors put up a strong performance, accumulating 36 points through a combination of raid points, tackle points, and bonus points. JD Noida Ninjas responded with a balanced effort across raids and tackles to finish with 39 points, sealing the first win of the season.

A large number of fans from both sides were present at the venue, creating an energetic atmosphere as they cheered for their respective teams. Following the match, JD Noida Ninjas owner Deepak Nagar congratulated the players on their opening-day victory.

The second match of the day was played between Mirzapur Kings and Lucknow Lions.

Speaking on the occasion, Sambhav Jain, Founder and Director of SJ Uplift Kabaddi, stated that the league was originally scheduled to begin on 24 December, but the start was deferred by one day following directions related to pollution control issued by the Supreme Court and the Sports Directorate.

A total of 12 teams are competing in UPKL Season 2. Each team will play 11 matches in a round-robin format. The season will feature 69 matches, including one exhibition match. Several international-level players, including Vinay Tewatia, Arjun Deshwal, Mohammad Aman, Abhimanyu, and RP Singh, are participating in the league.

The first season of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League was organised in 2024 with the cooperation of UP Kabaddi Association and was won by Lucknow Lions. The Lucknow Lions defeated the Sangam Challengers 59-33 to win the championship. Awadh Ramdoot, Brij Stars, Ganga Kings of Mirzapur, Kashi Kings, Lucknow Lions, Yamuna Yodhas and Sangam Challengers are the other teams in fray.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Great to see state-level leagues getting this kind of attention. Having international players like Arjun Deshwal participate raises the quality. Hope this league becomes a feeder for the Pro Kabaddi League. Well done, organizers!
R
Rohit P
Tough luck for Kanpur Warriors! They put up a strong fight. The match being postponed due to pollution control directions is a bit disappointing, but player health comes first. Looking forward to the Lucknow Lions match next!
S
Sarah B
As someone new to kabaddi, this article was a great intro! 12 teams and 69 matches sounds like a proper tournament. The fact that it had to be rescheduled for pollution is a sobering reminder of the environmental challenges, even for sports.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, while the league is a good initiative, the article could have given more stats - who was the best raider? Top defender? Just saying "balanced effort" is vague journalism. Fans want details! Otherwise, josh is high for UPKL! 💪
K
Karthik V
Ye hai asli khel! So proud to see kabaddi thriving in Uttar Pradesh. Ganga Kings, Kashi Kings, Yamuna Yodhas... the team names themselves have such a cultural connect. My support is with the Lucknow Lions to defend their title! 🦁

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