Rampant Deepak Hooda takes Rajasthan to senior kabaddi national semi-finals

Last year’s finalists, Indian Railways and Services too made it to the semis, along with Maharashtra.

April 16, 2021

Captain Deepak Hooda put on a stellar show in the quarter-finals of the 68th Senior National Kabaddi Championship on Thursday steering Rajasthan to the semi-finals of the tournament in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

Deepak Hooda scored a massive 23 raid points against Karnataka in the quarter-finals as Rajasthan won 68-33. Bhuvneshwar Gaur managed a 12-point Super 10 while in the defence, Brijendra Chaudhary registered six tackle points and Govind Gurjar recorded a High 5 too.

Only Rathan K delivered for Karnataka, but his 13 raid points were not enough at the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar International Sports Stadium. Rathan K too had scored 23 raid points in a match earlier in the day in Karnataka’s round of 16 victory over Delhi.

Rajasthan’s Deepak Hooda has been in stellar form in the tournament. Earlier in the round of 16 match, he scored a 15-point Super 10 in Rajasthan’s win over Bihar. On Wednesday, Deepak scored an astounding 24 raid points in a match against Vidarbha.

In Rajasthan’s five matches so far in the Senior National Kabaddi Championship 2021, Deepak Hooda has scored a mammoth 81 raid points, which includes four Super 10s.

Meanwhile, last year’s finalists Indian Railways and Services both proceeded to the semi-finals as well with contrasting results.

Defending champions Indian Railways beat Chandigarh 34-30 in a close match on the back of captain Pawan Sehrawat’s 14-point Super 10.

Services, meanwhile, dominated the Vishal Bhardwaj-led Himachal Pradesh 43-18. Manjeet scored 12 raid points, while Naveen Kumar managed nine for the victors.

Meanwhile. Maharashtra ousted home team Uttar Pradesh by a single point with a 38-37 scoreline. Siddharth Desai starred for Maharashtra with 12 raid points.

The senior kabaddi nationals will conclude on Friday with the semi-finals and the final.

Photo: Pro Kabaddi