Cuttack. The knockout stages of the 71st Senior National Kabaddi Championships kicked off with four compelling Round of 16 clashes at Cuttack’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, setting up two mouth-watering quarter-final encounters.

Defending champions Haryana, who were guided by star PKL players like defender Yogesh Kathuniya and raider Ashu Malik were pushed hard by Tamil Nadu in what proved to be the most competitive fixture of the day. Despite Tamil Nadu’s spirited resistance, Haryana’s superior raiding unit helped them secure a 48-41 victory in a high-scoring encounter.

The Naveen Kumar-led Services demonstrated why they remain one of the tournament favorites with a clinical dismantling of Madhya Pradesh. The servicemen’s disciplined defense and aggressive raiding combination proved too much for Madhya Pradesh to handle, resulting in a commanding 57-22 scoreline.

Punjab, another kabaddi powerhouse, made light work of Bihar with a dominant 47-18 victory. Their experienced squad controlled the proceedings from start to finish, barely allowing Bihar any momentum throughout the match.

Host state Odisha’s campaign came to an end as they fell to Maharashtra 43-26. Despite vocal home support, Maharashtra had guidance from the likes of Akash Shinde, Ajit Chouhan and Pankaj Mohite, and showed through as they steadily built their lead to secure a comfortable win.

The results have set up two intriguing quarter-final matchups. Haryana will face Services in what promises to be a tactical battle between two disciplined units, while Maharashtra will look to continue their impressive form against Punjab.

Cuttack, February 21, 2025: The second day of the Senior National Kabaddi Championships witnessed more high-intensity battles across different pools, with Services – led by Pro Kabaddi League’s very own Naveen Kumar – delivering the most commanding performance of the day in their 70-33 victory over Chhattisgarh.

Goa managed to edge past Jammu & Kashmir 38-35 in a closely fought encounter, while Rajasthan showcased their prowess in a convincing 61-43 win against Jharkhand.

Karnataka demonstrated their talent with a clinical 46-26 victory over Uttarakhand, while Punjab dominated their match against Bengal, securing a 49-24 win. Uttar Pradesh controlled their game against Assam, winning 35-19, and Tamil Nadu proved too strong for Pondicherry with a 47-35 victory.

Defending champions Haryana – which has Ashu Malik at the fore – continued their winning streak, defeating Delhi 39-19 in a Pool A encounter. Railways, maintaining their momentum from day one, overcame Bihar 45-27, while Maharashtra added another win to their tally by defeating Himachal Pradesh 37-24.

In Pool D’s matches, Chandigarh continued their impressive form with a convincing 51-32 win over Madhya Pradesh. The day’s most thrilling encounter saw Andhra Pradesh stage a remarkable comeback to edge past Gujarat 40-39, providing a fitting finale to an action-packed day.

Also boasting the likes of Devank Dalal, the Services’ dominant performance against Chhattisgarh was particularly noteworthy, with their raiders and defenders working in perfect sync to build up what would become the highest score of the tournament so far.

The results from Day Two’s first half have started to shape the qualification picture across all pools, with teams like Services, Karnataka, Punjab, and Haryana emerging as strong contenders for the knockout stages. As the tournament progresses, the competition is expected to intensify further, with teams fighting for crucial points to secure their passage to the next round.

Chandigarh. Punjab Kings have secured a major boost for their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign by signing FREEMANS Tools as their ‘Official Tools Partner’ for the upcoming season. This partnership marks FREEMANS’ commitment to sporting excellence in the region while strengthening Punjab Kings’ preparations for the upcoming IPL season.

Commenting on the partnership, Sahil Nayar, Executive Director at FMI Limited (FREEMANS), said, “We are proud to be the Official Tools Partner of Punjab Kings for the IPL 2025 season. This partnership reflects our deep-rooted commitment to our home state, Punjab, where we introduced our first FREEMANS Measuring Tape in 1950. For us, the moment marks 75 years of manufacturing FREEMANS Tools, with our roots firmly planted where we began. Together, we look forward to an exciting and action-packed season of cricket, celebrating precision, performance, and the spirit of the game!”

Satish Menon, Punjab Kings CEO, added, “On behalf of the entire Punjab Kings family, I welcome on board FREEMANS Tools as our partners for IPL 2025. We look forward to having a great partnership with them that runs for a long time and is accompanied with success and trust.”

FMI Limited is the pioneer and the largest manufacturer of Measuring Tools in the Indian subcontinent. Its product portfolio is marketed under the brand FREEMANS and includes an extensive selection of Hand Tools and Power Tools. Founded in Ludhiana, Punjab in 1950, FREEMANS celebrates its 75th anniversary in the manufacturing sector this year. The company also has a history of successful sports sponsorships across various disciplines.

Punjab Kings have strengthened their squad for IPL 2025, roping in World Cup-winning former Australian captain Ricky Ponting as Head Coach and Shreyas Iyer as the new captain. The team’s core includes IPL’s highest wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal, international stars such as Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, etc. and a talented group of young Indian players, positioning the franchise as strong contenders for the trophy.