Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Dominant quarterfinal wins and a nail-biting clash set the stage for a thrilling final phase
The quarterfinals of the Women’s Senior National Kabaddi Championship at the Balayogi Stadium delivered a blend of one-sided victories and a high-voltage close contest, as Indian Railways, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh sealed their places in the semifinals. With the competition entering its decisive phase, all four teams showcased form and confidence at the right time.
Defending champions Indian Railways underlined their title credentials with a commanding 58–23 victory over Maharashtra in the first quarterfinal. Sakshi led the scoring chart for Railways with 10 points, while Pooja added nine in a strong all-round team effort. The defensive unit, led by Sonali Shingate and Mandira Sampat Komkar, delivered crucial tackles to keep Maharashtra under constant pressure throughout the match. Railways dominated proceedings from start to finish, never allowing their opponents to settle.
Haryana produced one of the most emphatic performances of the knockout stage in the second quarterfinal, thrashing Madhya Pradesh 63–16. Raj Rani was the star of the match, finishing with an impressive 17 points. She was well supported by Ruchi, who contributed 11 points, and Nikita, who added 10. Haryana’s aggressive raiding and solid defense ensured a comfortable passage into the semifinals.
The third quarterfinal turned out to be the most closely fought encounter of the day, with Tamil Nadu edging past Chandigarh 39–37 in a tense battle. Chandigarh entered the contest with strong momentum from the league stage and remained in contention until the final moments. However, Tamil Nadu displayed composure under pressure to clinch the win. Karthika R once again proved decisive, scoring 15 points, while Suji M chipped in with nine. For Chandigarh, Anjali scored 10 points and Monica Rani added seven, but their efforts fell just short.
Himachal Pradesh completed the semifinal line-up with a convincing 48–25 win over Punjab in the fourth quarterfinal. Pushpa led the scoring for Himachal Pradesh with 16 points, while Jyoti contributed 12 to give the team a firm grip on the match. Punjab showed resistance through Simran Kamboj, who topped her team’s scoring with 17 points, but Himachal Pradesh maintained control to close out the contest comfortably.
With four in-form teams left in contention, the championship now moves into its most crucial stage. The semifinals and final, scheduled for January 30, promise intense competition and an exciting finish to the tournament.