Noida, Dec 25 (IANS) Noida Ninjas made a winning start in Season 2 of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL), which commenced on Thursday at the Noida Indoor Stadium, marking an exciting start to the new season.

In the opening match of the season, JD Noida Ninjas defeated Kanpur Warriors by a narrow margin of 39–36 in a closely contested encounter on Thursday evening.

Kanpur Warriors put up a strong performance, accumulating 36 points through a combination of raid points, tackle points, and bonus points. JD Noida Ninjas responded with a balanced effort across raids and tackles to finish with 39 points, sealing the first win of the season.

A large number of fans from both sides were present at the venue, creating an energetic atmosphere as they cheered for their respective teams. Following the match, JD Noida Ninjas owner Deepak Nagar congratulated the players on their opening-day victory.

The second match of the day was played between Mirzapur Kings and Lucknow Lions.

Speaking on the occasion, Sambhav Jain, Founder and Director of SJ Uplift Kabaddi, stated that the league was originally scheduled to begin on 24 December, but the start was deferred by one day following directions related to pollution control issued by the Supreme Court and the Sports Directorate.

A total of 12 teams are competing in UPKL Season 2. Each team will play 11 matches in a round-robin format. The season will feature 69 matches, including one exhibition match. Several international-level players, including Vinay Tewatia, Arjun Deshwal, Mohammad Aman, Abhimanyu, and RP Singh, are participating in the league.

The first season of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League was organised in 2024 with the cooperation of UP Kabaddi Association and was won by Lucknow Lions. The Lucknow Lions defeated the Sangam Challengers 59-33 to win the championship. Awadh Ramdoot, Brij Stars, Ganga Kings of Mirzapur, Kashi Kings, Lucknow Lions, Yamuna Yodhas and Sangam Challengers are the other teams in fray.

–IANS

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