Sonepat, February 8: The Haryana Sports University in Rai hosted an exhilarating finale of the Kabaddi Champions League, where the Rohtak Royals triumphed over the Bhiwani Bulls with a score of 32-30, securing the championship title.
The final unfolded as anticipated. Devank Dalal initiated the scoring for the Bhiwani Bulls with a bonus point, but Vijay Malik and Rakesh Singh quickly responded with aggressive raids and strategic attacks for the Rohtak Royals.
The Royals established early dominance, achieving their first all-out and taking a 9-3 lead. However, Bhiwani made a comeback with Devank’s fearless raids and timely revivals from Saurav. Both teams showcased solid defense, managing to contain star raiders, and at halftime, Rohtak led 20-16.
In the second half, Bhiwani Bulls briefly took the lead with Parvesh Malik completing a high-five. The Royals relied on discipline and patience to withstand the pressure. Despite Devank’s injury and the Bulls facing do-or-die situations, they remained competitive until the final moments.
Key tackles from Rakesh Singh’s calm raids and Sandeep Narwal’s crucial stops in the dying seconds proved vital for the Rohtak Royals, who clinched the match 32-30, marking a historic victory.
The grand finale was attended by Haryana Cabinet Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, Kuldeep Dalal (Chairman, AKAH), Chetan Joshi (General Secretary, Uttarakhand), and Kumar Vijay (Chairman, Bihar Kabaddi Association).
Krishan Lal Panwar stated, “Kabaddi is the pride of Haryana, and the KCL has further strengthened that legacy with a world-class platform.”
Kuldeep Dalal remarked, “This league is shaping the future of Indian Kabaddi by exposing young players to pressure.”
Chetan Joshi added, “KCL has set a benchmark for domestic kabaddi competitions in India.”
After the victory, Vijay Malik expressed, “It was the final we expected. It could have gone either way, but we never lost hope. We will celebrate tonight because we worked hard for this. KCL has showcased Haryana’s passion for kabaddi, and I know this league will grow even bigger.”
Rohtak Royals’ head coach Surender Nada discussed strategy, stating, “We had to stick to our plan and maintain our defense regardless of the score. The longer you hold out, the more pressure you put on the raider. We had a plan to stop Devank, and executing that plan made a difference.”