Image Source NDTV
The Patna Pirates were crowned champions of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 3 after they defeated defending champions and heavy favourites U Mumba in a memorable encounter. In a truly riveting game of Kabaddi, the Pirates managed to maintain their lead throughout the game and never let the initiative slip. They survived some nervy moments toward the end and recorded a narrow 31-28 win to lift their first ever Pro Kabaddi title.
Patna beat Mumbai 31-28 to lift the golden trophy amidst spectacular scenes of celebration. Patna’s Rohit Kumar was awarded the best raider prize and Mumbai’s Mohit Chillar was adjudged the best defender of the match. Mumbai’s Rishank Devadiga emerged as the most successful raider of the season with 106 points.
Puneri Paltan notched up a comfortable 31-27 win over Bengal Warriors to finish at the third spot. The Paltans laid the foundation in the first-half with a 15-8 lead and had to repel a late surge from their rivals who were without their star raider Nitin Tomar, Mahendra Goud and their formidable left-corner Girish Ernak.
Did You Know???
- It is believed that Kabaddi was played in India as far back as 4000 years!
- While the origins of the game are still not clear, many believe the sport was invented by Abhimanyu during the Mahabharata battle at Kurukshetra
- The word ‘Kabaddi’ has come from a Tamil word, Kai-pidi, which means ‘holding hands’
- Kabaddi is the national game of Bangladesh
- Kabaddi first received international exposure when India demonstrated the sport during the Berlin Olympics in 1936
