Sanjay enania

Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium: In a thrilling turnaround, Patna Pirates stormed back from a halftime deficit to overpower Puneri Paltan 38–27 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium on Sunday. Ayan Lohchab was the star yet again with his 17 points leading the way, coupled with the defensive unit that allowed them to beat the table-toppers.

The opening ten minutes of the clash saw both teams engage in a tightly contested tactical battle, with neither side willing to concede an inch. The Pirates began by rotating their raiders smartly through Ankit Kumar and Ayan, while the defence, led by Deepak and Navdeep, held firm against Puneri’s early incursions.

Momentum shifted several times in the early exchanges – Pirates’ timely tackles countered Paltan’s defensive resistance – and the intensity on the mat reflected the high stakes of this early-season encounter. With Ayan’s swift raids and Ankit Kumar’s consistent support, Patna managed to keep a slender lead despite Puneri’s resilience in defence. At the end of ten minutes, the Pirates edged ahead, leading 8–5.