Faisalabad, Gujrat in SKL final

LAHORE: Faisalabad Sherdils and Gujrat Warriors fought their way into the final of the Pakistan’s first Super Kabaddi League being staged here at the Gymnasium Hall of Sports Board Punjab Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Wednesday.

The final between Faisalabad Sherdils and Gujrat Warriors will be played on Thursday at the same venue followed by the closing ceremony. Faisalabad Sherdils took on Sahiwal Bulls in the first semi-final and after quite a tough first half, the former won the match 33-24. Very intense competition was expected between the two sides and the score by the first water with Sherdils 12 and Bulls 11 speaks volume how determined the players were for the final spot.

It was not only the teams, the players but the fans and supporters present in the hall were all fully charged up, cheering and shouting in support of their teams. After having a one point lead at water, Sherdils did not budge for an inch and kept developing point after point to end the first session 22-17. They showed great vigor to overpower Bulls to win the match and a place in the final.

In the second semi-final, which was between Gujrat Warriors and Kashmir Jaanbaaz, the Warriors proved to be too strong a team to be controlled. They kept the whole proceeding in its grip and won 41-28. They were leading by 20-17 points at half time. They kept the rivals at bay every time the losers came up with a point. Warriors’ every step was towards the final and just before the hooter they were 32-23 ahead of the Jaanbaaz.

The closing ceremony and final match of Pakistan’s first-ever kabaddi league will be on Thursday with the prize distribution ceremony at around 6.30 pm. An official of the kabaddi federation Mohamamd Sarwar said: “The league would pave the way for the revival of kabaddi in Pakistan, re-brand the game and bring international sports back to Pakistan.”

He further stated that the League saw participation of international players in 10 teams of Pakistan’s cities. Those international players belonged to eight countries, he added. Strawberry Sports Management collaborated with Pakistan Kabaddi Federation and Telenor extended patronage in the organization of the league.