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As the conclusion of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League’s league stage nears its conclusion, the ropes around the necks of the teams are getting tighter by the minute. On the final day of the League’s stay in the capital, desperate Puneri Paltan who are living on the edge take on the highly resurgent Champions Jaipur Pink Panthers at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in New Delhi later today.
The Paltans have failed to improve on last season’s disaster and sit rock bottom of the league like they did at the end of last season. But with just six games left to play, Puneri Paltan face a do-or-die situation already and looking at their past performances in the tournament, it looks like the latter will be the case for the Maratha Lions yet again this term.
But a lionhearted performance against the league’s top team Telugu Titans led by their sensational skipper Wazir Singh last time out has made those ready to rule them out of the reckoning re-consider their decision. With Wazir Singh in the kind of form he is displaying and the likes of Parvin Niwale delivering top performances, the Puneri Paltan will offer any opponent a force to be reckoned with.
On the other hand, a lot was expected of the Jaipur Pink Panthers, the Champions of last season, but somehow things went horribly wrong for the Pink Panthers as they lost five of their first six games.
Many dismissed the Pink Panthers as a one season wonder until, in the reverse fixture against Puneri Paltan, the men from the pink city ripped apart the Maratha challenge to trigger a comeback. The Pink Panthers never looked back from there and have since gone three games unbeaten with a herculean second half comeback against the mighty Telugu Titans on their home turf saw them claim a precious draw.
With the sheer urge for survival on one side and the hunger for restoring the pride of the champions on the other, the capital is primed for one hell of a battle.
But something has to give. Will it be the bravery of the Marathas or the might of the Rajputs, we will know come 8 pm tonight.
