Defending champions Odisha Juggernauts became the third side to enter the semi-finals of the Ultimate Kho Kho, edging past Gujarat Giants 30-27 in Cuttack on Saturday. (More Sports News)
In the day's second match, Chennai Quick Guns grabbed the final semifinal spot by defeating Mumbai Khiladis 41-18.
Mumbai Khiladis won the toss and chose to defend but the performance of their defenders in Turn 1 did not vindicate their decision. They did not manage even a single dream run point as Chennai Quick Guns raced to a 16-0 lead.
Chennai Quick Guns consolidated their position with a brilliant defensive display in Turn 2. Their first batch of Ramji Kashyap, Madan and Vijay Shinde managed to last five minutes and 34 seconds on the mat, scoring six dream run points.
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Two members of their second batch remained unconquered as Chennai Quick Guns carried a massive 22-8 lead into the second innings.
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Earlier in the evening, Rohan Singade was the star performer for the Juggernauts, frustrating the Giants' attackers in the final turn to make a difference.
The Giants opted to defend after winning the toss, and their first batch consisting of Suyash Gargate, Faizankha Pathan and Abhijit Patil earned a dream run point.
The subsequent batch of K Ram Mohan, V Subramani and Rajvardhan Patil secured another dream run point for the Giants. But the Juggernauts managed to hold a 14-2 advantage at Turn 1.
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The Juggernauts began the Turn 2 with an impressive defensive display. Their first batch of Gowtham MK, Vishal and Dilip Khandavi remained on the pitch for five minutes and 13 seconds and managed five dream run points.
Manoj Patil remained unconquered in the second batch, while the Juggernauts entered the second innings with a 19-14 advantage.
In Turn 3, the first batch of the Giants, which comprised Akshay Bhangare, Deepak Madhav and Shubham Thorat, earned two dream run points, followed by good work by their second batch.
Both Suyash Gargate and Abhijit Patil stayed unconquered and gained a dream run point, leaving the Juggernauts with only a ten-point lead to defend in the final turn.
The Juggernauts' first batch of Dipesh More, Nikhil B and Omkar Sonawane collected a dream run point, which left the Giants with five points to obtain in a little over three minutes.
However, Singade had other ideas, as he ensured that his team qualified for the semis with a narrow win.
