Gujarat Giants once again became the points table toppers after defeating Chennai Quick Guns by 6 points in the first season of Ultimate Kho Kho at the Sri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Mahalunge, Pune on Friday. While in the second match, Mumbai players defeated Telugu Warriors by 8 points.
Gujarat, led by defenders Jagannath Das (14 bonus points), defeated Chennai by a margin of 50-44. While Mumbai beat Yoddhas 54-46 thanks to Wazir Durvesh Salunke (14 points) and Avek Singha (8 points) great attack and defenders (8 points) for their second win in the league. Avdhut Patil 10, Arun Gunki 9 points for Yoddhas. were made This is his third loss in seven matches.
Warriors won the toss and decided to defend. In reply, Mumbai opened with a powerplay to take a 9-0 lead but Prateik Wakar (2.46 mins) and Anukul Sarkar (3.04 mins) managed to grab four bonus points for the Warriors in the second half. The Yoddhas played 1.58 minutes in the third innings amid consecutive fouls and the fourth innings remained unbeaten. By the end of the turn, Mumbai were leading 22-4.
In reply, Yoddhas dismissed Mumbai’s first batch in 1.47 minutes to make the score 13-22. He then resorted to the powerplay captain Vijay Hazare (2.44 minutes) and S. Sreejesh was on the mat. Third batch Gajanan Sengal (2.36 minutes) also got a bonus. The first half was tied at 26-26.
In reply, Mumbai dismissed the Yoddhas’ first batch in 2.02 minutes of the third turn to take a 33–26 lead. He then fired the second batch in 1.56 minutes to take his lead to 39-26. Similarly, he scored a layup with 1.43 minutes left in the third to take a 47-26 lead. By the end of this turn the score was 50-26.
The Warriors hit back by dismissing Mumbai’s first batch in 1.31 minutes to make the score 34-50. Captain Hazare (2.46 minutes) and Abhishek Pathode (3.06 minutes) in the second batch gave the team a bonus. Pathode took another bonus after Hazare’s dismissal. The score was now 54-40 and the Warriors’ chances of winning were over.
Earlier, Gujarat registered a 50-44 win against Chennai. This is Gujarat’s fifth win in seven matches and they have 17 points in their account. This is Chennai’s fourth defeat in seven matches. They are fourth in the six-team table with nine points. Jagannath (3.42 mins) showed excellent defense to give Gujarat six bonus points in the third turn.
Earlier, Sagar Potdar (2.51 mins) and Nilesh Patil (3.06 mins) got him four bonus points from the first batch while Abhinandan Patil (3.03 mins) also got him four bonus points in the powerplay. In defence, Suyyash Garget top scored for Gujarat with 8 points while Ranjan Shetty and Akshay Bhangre chipped in with 7 points each while Amit Patil top scored with 10 points for Chennai. Amit (3.12 minutes) had earlier earned the team four bonus points along with Ramji Kashyap (2.41 minutes).
Gujarat won the toss and decided to defend. Made a good start in the first turn and took 8 points as a bonus. The first batch took four punts. While the second batch earned him four more bonus points in the middle of the powerplay. From this turn, Chennai got 19 points with the help of defense
In reply, Gujarat took a 21-19 lead by trailing the first two sets in Chennai. Gujarat then gave Madan an early walk in the powerplay but Amit Patil (3.12 mins) and Ramji Kashyap (2.41 mins) managed to give the team four bonus points. After the first half the score was 26-23 in favor of Gujarat.
In the third turn, Jagannath (3.42 mins) made a brilliant save to give Gujarat six bonus points. These 6 points have brought Gujarat back to the lead. Chennai, however, took a 42-32 lead by the end of the turn. Gujarat then made the score 38-42 after dismissing Chennai’s first batch in 2.21 minutes and then sealed victory despite Ram Mohan’s batch bonus (2.40 minutes) midway through the powerplay.
Six teams – Chennai Quick Guns, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Knights, Odisha Juggernauts, Rajasthan Warriors and Telugu Warriors are participating in the first season of India’s first franchise-based Kho Kho League.
Ultimate Kho Kho is promoted by Amit Burman in association with Kho Kho Federation of India.
The final of India’s first franchise-based Kho-Kho League will be played on September 4.