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In another nail-biting encounter of Pro Kabaddi League Season 11, U Mumba secured a narrow 35-33 victory over home team UP Yoddhas at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Sunday, November 10. The win was especially significant as it came in the opening match of the Noida leg, silencing the home crowd. Despite UP Yoddhas' Bharat Hooda securing a Super 10, the combined raiding efforts of Ajit Chouhan and Rohit Raghav, who scored 8 points each, proved decisive for U Mumba.
No matter what the lead is, we need to fight until the last moment: Sunil Kumar's mantra
Reflecting on the close contest, U Mumba's skipper Sunil Kumar acknowledged the team's early struggles but praised their resilience. "We made some mistakes in the beginning, but we didn't allow the lead to slip too far," he said. “But three crucial super tackles worked in our favour, which stopped the UP Yoddhas from building a substantial lead,” he added.
Kumar emphasized the importance of fighting until the last minute, a philosophy that proved crucial in this victory. "No matter what the lead is, we need to fight until the last moment. Even with 45 minutes gone, we keep fighting," he explained.
This mentality paid off as U Mumba maintained their composure in the crucial final minutes of the game. The skipper also praised the team's newer players, particularly highlighting one Ajit and Rohit, who secured important points towards the end of the game, "The new kids on the block have been performing exceptionally well, securing important points for the team," Kumar noted.
Looking ahead to their next challenges, Kumar stressed the importance of minimizing errors, especially against stronger opponents. "We need to work on both sides - defense and offense. We've had some good tackles, but we need to ensure we maintain this performance level," he added.
This victory showcased U Mumba's ability to handle pressure in close matches, a trait that could prove crucial as the season progresses. The team's balanced performance, combining effective raiding from Chouhan and Raghav with strategic defending, ultimately proved to be the difference in this closely fought encounter.
(With Inputs from Press Release)
