Noida Ninjas secured a victorious start in Season 2 of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) at the Noida Indoor Stadium. In the league’s inaugural match, JD Noida Ninjas narrowly defeated Kanpur Warriors 39-36 in a closely fought contest. Kanpur Warriors displayed a strong performance, amassing 36 points, while JD Noida Ninjas responded with a balanced effort to clinch the win with 39 points.
The enthusiastic presence of fans from both teams at the venue added to the energetic atmosphere as they cheered for their respective sides. Post-match, JD Noida Ninjas owner Deepak Nagar extended congratulations to the players for their successful start. The second match of the day featured Mirzapur Kings against Lucknow Lions.
Sambhav Jain, Founder and Director of SJ Uplift Kabaddi, mentioned that the league was initially set to kick off on December 24 but was postponed by a day due to pollution control directives from the Supreme Court and the Sports Directorate. UPKL Season 2 involves 12 teams competing in a round-robin format, with each team playing 11 matches. The season will include a total of 69 matches, including an exhibition match, with the participation of renowned international-level players such as Vinay Tewatia, Arjun Deshwal, Mohammad Aman, Abhimanyu, and RP Singh.
The inaugural season of the Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League was held in 2024 in collaboration with the UP Kabaddi Association, with Lucknow Lions emerging as the champions by defeating Sangam Challengers 59-33. Other teams in the league include Awadh Ramdoot, Brij Stars, Ganga Kings of Mirzapur, Kashi Kings, Lucknow Lions, Yamuna Yodhas, and Sangam Challengers.
