Sahiwal, Kashmir enter SKL quarterfinals

LAHORE: The inaugural Super Kabaddi League (SKL) has entered the eliminator’s round after the initial phase concluded with victories for Sahiwal, Karachi, Kashmir and Multan on the last day of the league stage.

Sahiwal Bulls and Kashmir Janbaz moved into the quarterfinals after they upset Lahore Thunders and Islamabad in the first two eliminators on Monday. Sahiwal beat Lahore 45-37 in the firat eliminator to enter quarterfinals while Kashmir Janbaz also made it to the quarterfinals when they beat Islamabad All Stars 36-31 in the second eliminator late in the evening. In the first eliminator the poor form of Lahore continued even in the eliminator as by the end of the first session, Sahiwal was way ahead of Lahore 34-13.

The winners of the first eliminator Sahiwal will now take on Peshawar Haiders on Tuesday. The second eliminator is between Islamabad All Stars and Kashmir Janbaz.

The females teams of Strawberry Dreams and Strawberry Ambitions collided on Monday for the first time in the country’s kabaddi history. This first-ever women’s kabaddi match drew immense interest of the followers of the port. Like the male players, these girls played very interesting match and in the end Strawberry Ambitions defeated Strawberry Dreams 33-31. The league being staged at Gymnasium Hall of Sports Board Punjab at Nishtar Park Sports Complex, had the first eliminator played between Lahore Thunders and Sahiwal Bulls.

Earlier in the league stage, Gawadar that had a dream start in the league was halted by Sahiwal in the first math of the fifth day last night. Karachi Zorawars swelled the misery of Lahore to keep them winless. Rather they humiliated Lahore with a record highest score of the league. Karachi humbled Lahore Thunder 51 to 32. In the third match of the night in the league stage, Kashmir Janbaaz won with little trouble over Peshawar Haiders. Kashmir tightened the grip on the match bit by bit and moment by moment and in the end won by 40 to 34 difference.

The final match was played between Multan and Faisalabad. Multan Sikandar got a tough response from Faisalabad Sherdils for each point they scored and for each stride they took but ultimately Multan got an edge and a win 33-30.