Our correspondent
LAHORE: Gujrat Warriors also qualified for the semifinals of the inaugural Super Kabaddi League (SKL) when they narrowly beat Multan Sikandars 34-32 in the last quarterfinal here at the Gymnasium Hall of Sports Board Punjab Nishtar Park Sports Complex on Tuesday night.Baba Ali of the winners was the star player of the last quarterfinal. All the semifinalists have thus been decided.
Earlier Kashmir Jaanbaaz were moved into the semifinals after they defeated Karachi Zorawars. Jaanbaaz were followed by Faisalabad Sherdils in to the semifinals after they beat spirited Gwadar Bahadurs in the quarterfinal. Sahiwal Bulls had to use all their power to overcome Peshawar Haiders in the quarterfinal for a semifinal place.
Earlier to start the day’s activity, both Kashmir and Karachi went neck and neck in their race for the semi’s spot but Kashmir players after reaching mid way through the game started to strengthen their grip on the match and won in the end by 39 to 32 margin. At one moment both the teams were 22-all and at half time, Jaanbaaz were in control 29-24. Zorawars, however, staged a wonderful fight back but Jaanbaaz held their act together to win the match in the end.
In the second quarterfinal Faisalabad Sherdils took on Gwadar Bahardurs and after change of fate several times Sherdils defeated Bahadurs 45-26. The second quarter-final too was a close contest as whenever one team took a lead the other responded instantly. Just before the half way, Bahadurs were ahead of Sherdils 15-11 but at half time Gwadar Bahadurs lost their footing and Faisalabad Sherdils moved ahead 24-21. And from then on Faisalabad maintained their supremacy in the match till the end. In the third quarter-final match that was between Peshawar Haiders and Sahiwal Bulls. In this sensational encounter, the latter team was leading by slender margin of one point. Bulls had 17-16 score edge over Haiders just before the first time out taken by the coaches. In the very next minute, Haiders gained upper hand 18-17. But Bulls consolidated their position in the match by getting 32-25 score and finally won the match after a great fight from Haiders 36-32. The fourth quarter-final was between Multan Sikandar and Gujrat Warriors. A day earlier, two women’s teams displayed their talent in an exhibition match. Strawberry Ambitions beat Strawberry Dreams 33-31 in a very close competition.In this 10-team league, Lahore Thunder and Islamabad All Stars were the two sides that were knocked out of the event after they lost their matches in the elimination round.
