The Pro Kabaddi League’s tradition of league leaders lifting the champion’s trophy was maintained by Puneri Paltan’s victory. With a three-point victory over Haryana Steelers, the Paltan won their first-ever PKL championship.
Puneri Paltan defeated Haryana Steelers 28–25 in a thrilling match that took place at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Friday to win the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 championship.
The Pune-based squad lost heartbreakingly in the previous season’s championship game, but this victory is their first-ever triumph.
With the two strongest backlines facing off in the top showdown, the low-scoring match was designed to be a defensive struggle. But Puneri Paltan’s raider Pankaj Mohite was the game’s MVP, leading his team’s offensive assault and dishing out a critical nine points, especially in pivotal do-or-die situations.
Puneri held a slim edge throughout the first half in a close match. Haryana nearly went all-out after a pivotal Mohite four-point raid close to halftime, but Vishal Tate, a replacement raider, saved the Steelers with a critical touch point.
The second half remained tense throughout. Paltan finally built an eight-point lead in the final two minutes. Puneri’s strong defensive play, led by right corner Gaurav Khatri’s four tackle points, slowed the game and helped them win.
Haryana, on the other side, had a dismal night defensively, recording only six tackle points throughout the game. One feels sorry for coach Manpreet Singh, who has had a bad run in the finals. Before his heartbreaking loss to the Steelers, he had lost two consecutive finals with the Gujarat Giants (formerly the Gujarat Fortune Giants).
Aslam Inamdar, Paltan’s captain, was named the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) after scoring 142 raid points and 23 tackle points. Mohammadreza Chiyaneh, their vice-captain, won the Best Defender title but fell one tackle point short of equaling the record of 100, while Daband Delhi’s Ashu Malik received the Best Raider trophy for his 276 raid points.
