Arjun Deshwal’s seventh straight Super 10 propels Jaipur Pink Panthers past Puneri Paltan

Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Super 10 machine, Arjun Deshwal, added another to his tally and helped his side beat the Puneri Paltan 31-26. Jaipur snapped its three-game losing streak with this win and climbed to seventh on the vivo Pro Kabaddi season 8 points table.    

The Pink Panthers raced to a 6-2 lead early in the game, courtesy of four points from Deshwal and a couple from their defence. Deshwal and Sandeep Dhull added two more points to their team’s total as Jaipur closed in on inflicting an All Out. The Paltan’s defence finally managed to pin Deshwal down, and then Nitin Tomar came off the bench to help his team cut the deficit to three. But a two-point raid from Naveen and Deshwal’s sixth raid point of the night left the Paltan with just a solitary man on the mat. The Pink Panthers’ defence made no mistake in pinning him down to inflict the game’s first All Out and take an eight-point lead.

The Paltan responded well to the setback and outscored the Pink Panthers 6-2 in the four minutes post the All Out to cut the deficit to four. Deepak Hooda came off the bench to score a bonus, but in the subsequent raid, Mohit Goyat tagged both Pink Panthers’ players on the mat before making his way through the midline to help the Paltan inflict an All Out and cut the deficit to just one.

Both teams added another point to their total in the final minute of the first half and went into the halftime break with Jaipur leading 18-17.

The Pink Panthers maintained their slender six minutes into the half but threatened to pull away courtesy of Deshwal, who completed his Super 10. Tomar and the Paltan’s defence reeled Jaipur back to within one, but Hooda and Deshwal’s strong work on offence helped the Pink Panthers push their lead up to four and leave the Paltan with a solitary man on the mat.

The Pink Panthers’ defence allowed Baldev Singh to pick the bonus but starved him for a touch point before pinning him down to inflict an All Out on the Paltan and take a six-point lead. Jaipur’s defence added another point to their team’s total as they threatened to push their lead to eight and deny the Paltan a point from the game.

Tomar and Aslam Inamdar added a couple of points to their team’s total to rescue a point, but that wouldn’t bother the Pink Panthers much, as they took home the win and five points.   

Top Performers

Jaipur Pink Panthers

Best Raider – Arjun Deshwal (11 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Sandeep Dhull (4 Tackle Points)

Puneri Paltan

Best Raider – Nitin Tomar (4 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Aslam Inamdar (3 Tackle Points)