Noida: In the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) Season 2, Sangam Challengers delivered a spirited performance in Monday’s opening match, defeating Kanpur Warriors 37–32. With this victory, Sangam Challengers notched up their third consecutive win and made a remarkable jump on the points table—from seventh place to second. Popular television actors Anoop Upadhyay and Vishwajeet Soni were present at the stadium to witness the high-voltage encounter.
Kanpur Warriors began the match aggressively, putting early pressure on Sangam and pushing them close to an all-out situation. Just when Kanpur seemed to be gaining control, Sangam Challengers turned the tide with a crucial super tackle that broke their opponents’ momentum. Riding on strong defensive efforts, Sangam soon forced Kanpur into an all-out, swinging the match decisively in their favour.
Sangam continued to dominate thereafter, maintaining pressure through disciplined defence and controlled raiding to strengthen their lead before halftime. The momentum carried into the second half as well, with Sangam once again securing an early advantage and inflicting another all-out on Kanpur to open up a significant gap on the scoreboard. Kanpur Warriors, however, showed resilience, tightening their defence and executing back-to-back super tackles to reduce the deficit to ten points.
Despite Kanpur’s fightback, Sangam displayed composure, slowing the game, executing careful raids, and preventing any sustained comeback. Captain Mayank Malik led from the front, playing a pivotal role in defence. He registered an impressive eight tackle points and thwarted Kanpur’s raiders at key moments to seal the contest. Sangam Challengers eventually clinched a 37–32 win, further strengthening their position as the league heads into its decisive phase.
In the second match of the day, Yamuna Yoddhas defeated Ganga Kings Mirzapur by five points (49–44).
Following these results, Lucknow Lions continue to lead the points table with 12 points. Sangam Challengers have moved up to second place with 10 points, while Gazab Ghaziabad sit third and Bridge Stars fourth, both also on 10 points. With each team left with only three to four matches, the race for the top spots has intensified, making every game in this do-or-die week crucial.
In other fixtures of the day, Lucknow Lions faced Aligarh Tigers, while Purvanchal Panthers took on Kashi Kings.
