In a contest defined by high drama and momentum swings, Hisar Heroes registered a hard-fought 41-38 victory over Bhiwani Bulls in Match 3 of the inaugural Kabaddi Champions League (KCL). The night belonged to star raider Ashu Malik, whose sensational all-round performance proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Match Report: A Tale of Two Halves
The match began with intense exchanges. Ashu Malik opened the scoring with a bonus point, but Bhiwani Bulls’ marquee raider, Devank Dalal, quickly seized control.
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Early Domination: Dalal’s aggressive raiding pushed Hisar Heroes to the brink, inflicting the first All-Out of the match as Bhiwani built a healthy lead.
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Halftime Score: Despite trailing, Ashu Malik led a spirited recovery, completing his Super 10 before the break to narrow the deficit to 19-20 at halftime.
The Turning Point
The second half witnessed a decisive shift in momentum. While Devank Dalal kept Bhiwani in the hunt with a massive Super Raid, it was Ashu Malik who delivered the knockout blow.
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The “Historic” Raid: With Hisar reduced to a single man on the mat and facing an imminent All-Out, Ashu Malik executed a match-saving raid against seven defenders. Although a review reduced the initial points awarded, the move saved his team and swung the lead back to the Heroes.
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Record Breaker: Ashu Malik became the first raider of the tournament to cross the 20-raid-point mark, cementing his dominance.
Key Performances
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Hisar Heroes: Apart from Ashu’s heroics, the defence was marshaled by Nitesh Kumar, who stepped up with crucial tackles in the dying minutes to protect the lead.
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Bhiwani Bulls: Devank Dalal fought valiantly, and a late surge brought the Bulls within two points in the final minute, but they ultimately fell short.
