Lithe and lethal, Naveen Kumar gave wing to Dabang Delhi’s victory aspirations. The slippery raider leapt over the rival defenders, ducked under legs close to the centreline and scored 11 points to power Dabang to a comfortable 39-30 win over formidable Bengal Warriors in a ProKabaddi League contest on Sunday.
Warriors, a win away from topping Zone B, were never in the game and slipped to its first defeat in four matches.
Jang Kun Lee’s 10 points from 15 raids was an example lost on teammates, shackled by defensive discipline in the rival camp.
Maninder Singh was kept in check, scoring only six points and getting snared six times.
Naveen launched 22 raids while Ranjit Chandran lent support with seven points off 20 raids) for Dabang. Ravinder Pahal and Joginder Singh did their bit in defence.
Dabang gained early momentum, before Warriors launched a fightback.
Naveen stole the show in the first half with a stylish leap over a group of Warriors before kicking his leg free of another rival. Dabang inflicted an all-out to lead 16-13 at the breather.
Warriors silenced
The in-form raiders, Maninder and Jang Kun Lee, were subdued by the Dabang defence though the latter finished with 10 points.
The result: Dabang Delhi 39 (Naveen Kumar 11) bt Bengal Warriors 30 (Jang Kun Lee 10).