Telugu Titans’ playoffs dream ends after loss to Puneri Paltan

Puneri Paltan registered a 53-50 win over Telugu Titans at the Tau Devilal Sports Complex in Panchkula on Thursday in what was the highest-scoring game in vivo Pro Kabaddi history. The result also meant that Telugu Titans are no longer in the Season 7 playoffs race.  

Puneri Paltan dominated the opening exchanges and were rewarded for their strong start in the sixth minute when they enforced an All-Out to open up a 10-3 lead. Telugu Titans began scoring more freely after the reset, but Puneri Paltan continued to pick up points as well through their defence and the raiding trio of Nitin Tomar, Manjeet and Sushant Sail.

The continuous pressure by Puneri Paltan led to them inflicting another All-Out to extend their lead to 24-10 with six minutes remaining in the half. Telugu Titans then put Puneri Paltan under some pressure and had even reduced them to two men on the mat at one stage. However, two Super Tackles by Puneri Paltan thwarted a bit of Telugu Titans’ momentum and ensured that Anup Kumar’s men had a healthy 31-16 lead at halftime.

Any hopes of a Telugu Titans comeback suffered a setback in the opening minutes of the second half. A four-point Super Raid by Sail and a two-point raid by Manjeet helped Puneri Paltan enforce a third All-Out to extend their advantage to 40-17.

Undeterred, Telugu Titans responded with a four-point Super Raid of their own through Rakesh Gowda and went on to capitalise by inflicting an All-Out on Puneri Paltan to reduce the deficit to 46-28. With the wind now in their sails, Telugu Titans upped the ante further with decisive defending and incisive raiding by Gowda and Farhad Milaghardan. Their relentless tempo led to them enforcing another All-Out on Puneri Paltan to cut the lead down to 48-39 with less than seven minutes to play.

While Puneri Paltan found it difficult to get going in the closing stages, Telugu Titans seemed to be in top gear and reduced the deficit to 48-43, making it a five-point game with four and a half minutes to play. However, a crucial Super Raid by Emad Sedaghatnia in 38th minute ensured that Puneri Paltan kept their distance with Telugu Titans in the final moments and registered a three-point win.  

Top Performers:

Telugu Titans –

Best Raider – Rakesh Gowda (16 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Aakash Arsul (5 Tackle Points)

Puneri Paltan –

Best Raider – Manjeet (11 Raid Points)

Best Defender – Surjeet Singh (7 Tackle Points)