Gujarat Giants went down by a narrow margin of four points to U.P. Yoddhas in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 9 match at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday, November 21.

Trailing 10-20 at the end of the first half, the Ram Mehar Singh-coached Gujarat Giants bounced back in an emphatic fashion to tie 28-28 with four minutes remaining, before suffering a heartbreaking 31-35 defeat in the end.

Meanwhile, Giants’ star all-rounder Parteek Dhaiya continued his impressive form in the ongoing season as he bagged another Super 10 including completing eight successful raids to bring his side back into the game in the second half.

Stung by their first half capitulation, the Giants sprinted out of the gates in the second half and had, within the first five minutes, cut the lead by half. They inflicted an ALL OUT of their own to reduce the lead to one point. Thereafter, both teams started trading blows on almost every raid.

The Giants kept the pressure on the Yoddhas and ensured that they never got too safe. In the last two minutes, the difference between the two teams never extended two points, and with the last raid, the Giants needed success to get something from the game. However, a Super Tackle by the Yoddhas on Dhaiya closed the doors on Giants' hopes in the end.

Earlier, a slow start saw the UP Yoddhas take five consecutive points before the Giants had even opened their account. It took the Giants seven points to register their first point of the game and when they did, the Yoddhas, led by Pardeep Narwal hit them with a series of touch points to leave them on the verge of an all out. Narwal cleaned up the remaining two Giants defenders to inflict the first ALL OUT of the game and helped his side take a 13-2 lead. That raid also saw Pardeep extend his all time numbers, as he registered his 1500th point in the league.

Despite a brief Giants fightback, the Yoddhas stayed in complete control, their raiders perfectly complemented by a smart defence. The UP team went into the break leading 20-10.

Having accumulated 34 points from 15 matches, the Chandran Ranjith-led Giants are currently placed 11th in the Pro Kabaddi Season 9 standings and will now lock horns with Dabang Delhi in a must-win game at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Friday, November 25.