Storm Queens stormed into the final of Women’s Kabaddi Challenge with an impressive 21-11 victory over Fire Birds. Storm Queens defence produced a terrific performance, scoring 13 points to register their second win of the season.
With 13 points from four games, the Storm Queens are in the final now whereas Fire Birds will play against Ice Divas to decide the second finalist.
Storm Queens began strongly and led 4-1 after five minutes with Tejaswini Bai and Sonali Ingale scoring one raid point each. Fire Birds captain Mamtha Poojari scored just one raid point as their raiders struggled to score points.
The women in Green piled on the pressure at regular intervals with crucial raid and tackle points to lead 5-3 after 10 minutes. With the Fire Birds’ raiders struggling to get points, Storm Queens’ defence tightened at the back to give them an 8-4 at the end of first half.
In the second half, it was Storm Queens as Tejaswini Bai scored two raid points and inflicted an all out on Fire Birds to give Storm Queen 13-4 lead. Mamtha Poojari struggled for Fire Birds and scored just two points and none of the other raiders could get a single point. It was Kishori Shinde in defence who maintained some respectability for Fire Birds as they trailed 7-16 after 24 minutes.
Storm Queens scored with a two-point raid to increase the gap to 11 points as they led 18-7 in the 25th minute. The Fire Birds. meanwhile, finally got their first raid points when Rinju K scored in the 25th and 27th minute to cut the deficit to 9.
The Fire Birds, however, couldn’t find answers to a strong Storm Queens defence and scored just four points on their raids. Storm Queens won 21-11 to become the first finalist of Women’s Kabaddi Challenge.
