Daijiworld Media Network - Sonepat
Sonepat, Feb 8: Rohtak Royals, the Adroit Sports LLP-owned kabaddi franchise representing Rohtak, were crowned champions of the inaugural Kabaddi Champions League after edging past the Bhiwani Bulls 32-30 in a thrilling final at the Sports University of Haryana here.
In a closely fought contest that went down to the wire, the Royals displayed grit, discipline and tactical maturity to lift the maiden title under the leadership of head coach Surender Nada, marking his first assignment as a coach. The victory also earned the team the championship trophy along with a prize money of Rs 51 lakh.
Rakesh Singroha emerged as the top scorer for the Royals in the final with eight points. He received strong support from Milan Dahiya, who contributed five points, while Vijay Malik, Sandeep Deswal and Aryan added three points each in a low-scoring yet gripping finale.
The final began at a brisk pace, with Rohtak Royals racing to an early 4-2 lead inside the opening three minutes through successful raids by Vijay Malik, Rakesh Singroha and Milan Dahiya. The Royals’ defence also made its presence felt early by pinning down Bhiwani raider Devank. Maintaining the pressure, Rohtak inflicted the first All-Out of the match in the fifth minute to extend their lead to 9-3.
Rohtak continued to dominate the opening phase, with their defenders neutralising Devank twice in quick succession. However, Sourav led a determined fightback for the Bhiwani Bulls, helping his side reduce the deficit to 10-7 by the 10th minute. Bhiwani pressed harder and closed the gap to a single point, pushing the Royals to the brink of an All-Out.
At a crucial juncture, Rakesh Singroha delivered the first Super Raid of the match, restoring a four-point cushion for Rohtak at 15-11 in the 13th minute. Soon after, an unforced error resulted in Rohtak’s first All-Out, allowing Bhiwani to level the scores at 16-16. The closing minutes of the first half saw both teams trading points cautiously, with Rohtak heading into the break with a 20-16 lead, as Singroha topped the scoring charts with seven points.
The second half saw Bhiwani Bulls come out strongly, scoring in quick succession to draw level at 21-21 by the 25th minute. A series of errors then saw Rohtak briefly trail 23-24. The Royals responded with composure, as defenders Sandeep Deswal, Milan Dahiya and Gaurav produced a crucial Super Tackle on Devank to swing the momentum back in their favour.
What followed was a pulsating end-to-end battle, with both sides pushing relentlessly for the title. Under intense pressure in the final minutes, Rohtak Royals showcased their championship pedigree with disciplined defence and timely raids. The collective effort proved decisive as the Royals edged out the Bulls 32-30 in a nail-biting finish to seal the historic triumph.
After the match, head coach Surender Nada praised his players for their resilience and belief. He said the title was a reward for the hard work and discipline shown by the team throughout the tournament, adding that the players executed their plans perfectly even in high-pressure moments.
Captain Sandeep Narwal dedicated the victory to the team and supporters, saying he was proud of the way every player stepped up when it mattered most. He described winning the inaugural Kabaddi Champions League as special and expressed hope that it would be the beginning of many more successes for Rohtak Royals.