Pro Kabaddi League: Jaipur Pink Panthers edge past Dabang Delhi 24-22

In a close contest, a solid team effort from Jaipur Pink Panthers saw them edge out Dabang Delhi KC 24-22 in the fourth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League here at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium on Thursday.

Jasvir Singh scored seven raid points whereas Amit Hooda marshaled the defence well for Jaipur. Meraj Sheykh scored 11 points but his effort went in vain as Delhi weren't able to ride on his performance.

The win means that Jaipur Pink Panthers are now top of the table with 42 points from 12 games. Dabang Delhi are now seventh with 21 points from 10 games.

Jasvir Singh failed with his first raid as Dabang Delhi KC got their first tackle point in the first minute. Dabang Delhi KC led 3-1 after four minutes as Jaipur Pink Panthers' raiders couldn't get their foot early in the game.

Ajay Kumar scored Jaipur's first raid point in the sixth minute as they trailed 2-3. Kashiling Adake followed it with Dabang Delhi KC's first raid in the same minute to give his team a 4-2 lead. Jasvir Singh scored two raid points in two minutes and tied the game at 4-4 after eight minutes. Jaipur Pink Panthers inflicted an all out in the 10th minute to open a four point gap to lead 9-5.

Kashiling Adake got Delhi back in the game with a two-point raid in the 13th minute as they trailed 9-10. It was a tight affair and Ajay Kumar scored a raid in 15th minute as Jaipur Pink Panthers led 11-9. Selvamani scored a raid point for Delhi in the 18th minute as they trailed 12-11. However, Ajay Kumar scored a two-point raid in 20th minute as Jaipur Pink Panthers went into the break leading 14-11.

Jaipur began the second half slowly and scored two raid points in three minutes to lead 16-11 after 23 minutes. Meraj Sheykh scored three points in the 26th minute as Delhi cut the lead to just two points and trailed 14-16. Both teams exchanged tackle and raid points in the next five minutes as Jaipur led 18-16 after 31 minutes. Jasvir Singh scored two raid points as Jaipur led 22-16 after 35 minutes.

However, Meraj Sheykh scored two points in 35th minute as Jaipur trailed 18-22. It was a nervous and exciting last four minutes as MerajSheykh reduced Jaipur's deficit to just one point in the 38th minute. In the last minute it looked like both teams could nick a victory as MerajSheykh and Ajay Kumar scored raids in last minute with Jaipur leading 23-22. Rajesh Narwal, however, scored a crucial raid in the dying seconds as Jaipur won an exciting encounter 24-22.