Premier Handball League 2023: Maharashtra Ironmen Crowned Champions of first-ever Season

Jaipur, June 25: The Maharashtra Ironmen was on Sunday (June 25) crowned the champions of the first-ever Premier Handball League (PHL) after they registered a 38-24 victory against the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh in the final in Jaipur.

The Ironmen were thoroughly dominant in the final in which they put on an attacking masterclass led by Igor Chiseliov and Jalal Kiani, who both scored 11 goals each at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium.

Chiseliov started the game like a man possessed as he was holding off challenges from the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh players with ease and was finding a way to score.

The Ironmen were rampant in attack as Kiani, Ankit and Manjeet helped their team establish a slender lead. By the 15th mark, the scores read 8-5 in favour of the Maharashtra Ironmen.

Maharashtra were looking to build on their slender lead as Chiseliov, Kiani and Sumit Ghanghas were proving too much to handle for the Golden Eagles players. Despite the best efforts of Omid Reza in the Uttar Pradesh goal the Golden Eagles were floundering to stem the flow of goals.

Naveen Deshwal in the Maharashtra goal was also showcasing why he has been one of the standout keepers in the league as he made pivotal saves that allowed his team to extend their lead.

While Naveen was putting on a masterclass in goal for the Ironmen, Jalal Kiani and Manjeet Kumar were supercharging their attack. The half came to an end soon after as scores 16-12 in favour of the Maharashtra Ironmen.

Goals from Kiani, Ankit and Manjeet saw the Ironmen extend their lead further in the second half. Sumit Ghanghas and Igor Chiseliov were also supporting Kiani expertly as the Ironmen were attacking with devastating effect.

Halfway through the second half the scores read 26-15 as the Maharashtra Ironmen had established an unassailable lead going into the last quarter of the game. The Golden Eagles players looked jilted and deflated.

The Ironmen looked set to clinch the first-ever PHL title. The Golden Eagles looked devoid of ideas and a cutting edge in attack. The Ironmen continued scoring freely as they kept pulling away from the Golden Eagles.

Kiani, Chiseliov, Ankit and Manjeet Kumar were attacking with intense ferocity as the Golden Eagles players were shell-shocked. The Ironmen were breaching the Golden Eagles' defences with ease and went on extending their lead.

The sheer ruthlessness of the Ironmen in attack was superb as they continued dominating the Golden Eagles going into the last few minutes of the game. Soon after the game came to an end as the score 34-28 in favour of the Ironmen.

The Maharashtra Ironmen were crowned champions of the first ever season of the Premier Handball League after a thoroughly dominant display in the final against the Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh.

Igor Chiseliov and Jalal Kiani were the top scorers for Maharashtra Ironmen with 11 goals apiece. Igor Chiseliov was awarded the most valuable player of the game for his dominant display in the final.

Final Score: Maharashtra Ironmen -38 vs Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh - 24

Source: Media Release