Rohtak Royals Edge Past Panipat Panthers 43-36 to Reach Maiden KCL Final

Rohtak Royals Edge Past Panipat Panthers 43-36 to Reach Maiden KCL Final

Rohtak Royals defeated Panipat Panthers 43-36 in Semi-Final 2 of the Kabaddi Champions League Season 1, sealing their place in the grand final on February 6 at the Sports University of Haryana, Rai. It was a disciplined, controlled performance from the Royals against a Panipat Panthers side that had topped the league standings, and it set up a summit clash against Bhiwani Bulls that would go down as one of the most competitive finals in the tournament's debut season.

A Cautious Start Gives Way to Royal Control

Both sides opened the contest cautiously, trading raids and refusing to give away easy points in a tense opening exchange that reflected exactly how much was at stake in this Kabaddi Champions League semifinal. The deadlock broke in the Royals' favour through a brilliant super raid, which gave Rohtak the momentum to inflict a crucial all-out and take firm control of the contest. By halftime, Rohtak Royals held a healthy 21-15 lead, a cushion built on calm, structured kabaddi rather than any single explosive passage of play.

Full Match Report

Rohtak's defensive unit played its part in building that lead, with Sandeep Narwal's consistent tackling giving the Royals a platform to control tempo through the middle periods of the match, a contribution that would later earn him a High-5 on the day. In attack, a decisive super raid added further daylight to the scoreline, and Rohtak Royals carried their structured, patient approach into the second half without ever looking like they would surrender the initiative.

Panipat Panthers needed a spark, and they found one in Meetu Sharma, who fought almost single-handedly to drag his side back into contention. Sharma opened the second half strongly with a super raid and went on to complete a Super 10 performance, the kind of individual effort that had defined his season, but it wasn't enough to overturn Rohtak's control of the match. The Royals managed the closing stages with composure, ultimately closing out a 43-36 win and confirming their spot in the Kabaddi Champions League final against Bhiwani Bulls.

Player Performances

Vijay Malik's game management stood out as the difference-maker for Rohtak Royals, with his ability to control tempo and make the right decisions under pressure repeatedly denying Panipat any real route back into the contest. Sandeep Narwal's defensive work and eventual High-5 gave the Royals defensive stability throughout, while the early super raid that opened up the lead set the tone for a performance built on discipline rather than flash. For Panipat Panthers, Meetu Sharma's Super 10 stands as one of the standout individual performances of the entire knockout stage, even in a losing cause, and it underlined exactly why he finished the season among the Kabaddi Champions League's top raiders.

What This Win Meant

This semi-final win confirmed Rohtak Royals as a side built on structure and composure rather than raw firepower, a contrast to Bhiwani Bulls' high-volume raiding approach that would define the final itself. Having already shown strong league-stage form and now backing it up with a controlled knockout performance against the table-topping Panipat Panthers, Rohtak Royals headed into the Kabaddi Champions League final full of belief, a belief that would ultimately be rewarded with the league's first-ever title.

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