THE GACHIBOWLI Indoor stadium was at fever pitch as it hosted three thrilling encounters of the Senior National Kabaddi Championship - the two semi-finals and a final. Maharashtra and Services locked horns in the finals after defeating Karnataka and Haryana respectively in the semis.
Maharashtra skipper Rishank Devadiga delivered a Super raid in his very first attempt and provided an upper hand to his side. He was responded with an equally good attack from Monu Goyat and Nitin Tomar. Maharashtra went on to inflict the first All-Out in the 14th minute of the game, which provided them a 9-point lead.
Devadiga’s side suffered an All-Out in the second minute of the second half and narrowed the gulf between the two teams. After Goyat claimed his Super 10, the score remained locked at 25-25 in the 32nd minute. Eventually, Devadiga stepped up to end the game with a five-point lead (34-29).
With that win, Maharashtra also ended its draught of 11 years without a Nationals title.