Uttar Pradesh Upset Services; Maharashtra Storm into Semifinals at National Kabaddi Championships

The third day of the 72nd Senior Men's National Kabaddi Championship 2026 delivered high drama as quarterfinals and knockout matches produced a mix of emphatic wins and nail-biting finishes.

Sixteen teams featured across eight knockout contests, with Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Services, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Indian Railways and Bihar progressing to the quarterfinal stage after a day of intense competition.

The quarterfinals opened with a major upset as Uttar Pradesh stunned defending champions Services 55-51 to secure a semifinal berth. Star raider Arjun Deshwal led from the front with a remarkable 19-point performance, anchoring Uttar Pradesh's raid-heavy strategy with precision and consistency.

Maharashtra followed up with a dominant showing against Himachal Pradesh, winning 53-38. Ajit Chouhan and Aditya Shinde spearheaded the raiding attack with 14 and 12 points respectively, showcasing Maharashtra's balanced offensive unit.

Earlier in the knockouts, Tamil Nadu scripted a surprise result by eliminating tournament heavyweights Haryana via a tie-breaker after the match ended 35-35 in regulation time. Chandigarh also asserted their authority with a commanding 45-26 victory over Madhya Pradesh, powered by Pawan Sehrawat, who contributed 10 crucial points.

Maharashtra produced the biggest margin of the day with a thumping 69-21 win over Pondicherry, reflecting their all-round dominance. Another thriller unfolded between Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, where Himachal edged out their rivals 56-53 after star raiders Pappu Kumar and Mayank Saini accumulated 15 and 14 points respectively.

Uttar Pradesh extended their impressive momentum with a comprehensive 65-24 victory over Jammu & Kashmir, underlining their credentials as serious title contenders. Services rebounded strongly from their quarterfinal setback by overpowering Goa 51-22, with Devank Dalal scoring 10 raid points and Ankit marshaling the defence with four tackle points.

In a closely fought encounter, Bihar knocked out hosts Gujarat 38-34, while Indian Railways wrapped up the pre-quarterfinals with a solid 57-38 win over Karnataka, blending sharp raiding with disciplined defence.

Looking ahead, Indian Railways will face Bihar, while Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu are set to clash in the remaining quarterfinal fixtures as the championship enters its decisive phase.