Dev Kabaddi Academy were crowned champions in the “Saksham Hospital Ganga Damodar Kabaddi Championship in Gopalganj.
By A Correspondent
Gopalganj: The “Saksham Hospital Ganga Damodar Kabaddi Championship”, organised under the aegis of the Bihar State Kabaddi Association, concluded on a grand note today. Players delivered impressive performances in both semi-finals and the grand finale on the fourth day of the tournament. Dev Kabaddi Academy, who remained unbeaten throughout, clinched the title with a commanding victory in the final.
The championship, held on such a large scale for the first time in Gopalganj, received overwhelming support from spectators. A large crowd turned up for the semi-finals and final, enthusiastically cheering the players.
In the first semi-final, Dev Kabaddi Academy outclassed Bokaro Steel Smashers with a dominant 55–33 win to secure their place in the final. Shantanu starred with 21 raid points, while Aditya and Deepak contributed eight raid points each. In defence, Ankit played a crucial role with five tackle points. For Bokaro Steel Smashers, Rahul scored 11 raid points and Vicky added nine.
The second semi-final between Koderma Crushers and Mithila Artisans proved to be an exciting contest, with Mithila Artisans emerging victorious 59–45 to advance to the final. Aditya (16) and Bittu (13) were the top scorers for Koderma. For Mithila Artisans, Ravi delivered an outstanding performance with 28 raid points, while Raja and Saurabh contributed eight raid points and three tackle points respectively.
In the grand finale, Dev Kabaddi Academy continued their dominant run, defeating Mithila Artisans 50–35 to lift the trophy and earn the distinction of unbeaten champions. Shantanu once again led from the front with 21 raid points, while Ankit (8 tackle points) and Aditya (7 tackle points) excelled in defence. Despite Ravi’s 22 raid points for Mithila Artisans, his efforts were not enough to secure victory.
The closing ceremony was attended by Gopalganj Sadar MLA Subhash Singh, Dr Abhishek (Saksham Hospital), Dr Abhishek (Naman Heart Hospital, Patna), Vinod Kumar and Durga Rai as chief guests.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Subhash Singh said, “Events like the Ganga Damodar Kabaddi Championship provide an excellent platform for players in Gopalganj and the entire region. Such initiatives not only offer opportunities for athletes to progress but also foster awareness and enthusiasm for sports among the youth. I congratulate the organisers on this successful event and hope such tournaments continue in the future.”
The winning team was awarded ₹1,00,000, while the runners-up received ₹60,000. Additional awards included ₹10,000 each for Best Raider, Best Defender and Fan Favourite Team.
The successful organisation provided a strong platform for players from Bihar and Jharkhand and marked a significant step towards the development of kabaddi in the region.
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