Night Kabaddi

The Sri Devi Club players and officials during last years KL Open




The Sri Devi Kabaddi Club is hosting an invitational kabaddi tournament on Friday 8th May, 2009 in Puchong.

The tournament would be held from 6.30pm with the latter matches being played under floodlights.

The tournament, sanctioned by the Kuala Lumpur Kabaddi Association (KAKL), is being held in conjunction with the launch of the clubs kabaddi grounds in Puchong.

The club is perhaps the first in Malaysia to have the facilities to have an outdoor ground with floodlights to call their homeground.

Leading teams from the Premier League Kabaddi are expected to be among the eight teams participating in the knockout tournament.

No delays for now

The Kabaddi Association of Kuala Lumpur (KAKL) is aware that the Premier League Kabaddi (PLK) Week Five matches on May 10th, 2009 clashes with another tournament to be held in Negri Sembilan.

As of now, no decision has been made to postpone the PLK matches to the following week.

The decision would only be made upon written confirmation from the tournament organisers in Negri Sembilan confirming invitations to the PLK teams.

The PLK wants to ensure that any postponement of the league would only be carried out if it benefits the teams.

LUCKY LOSERS

Sri Devi Pumas moved into the quarter-finals despite losing their match against Selayang in the KAKL Knockout Cup at the Batu Caves grounds today.

The Pumas were beaten 53-63 by Selayang but were given a place in the quarter-finals by virtue of being the best losers.

Selayang are currently lying third in the Premier League Kabaddi standings while the Pumas are one of the invited teams in the knockout competition.

The 53 points they scored against Selayang were enough to see the Pumas pip Damansara for a place in the last eight. The tournament rules allows the best performing losing team with the highest points scored to qualify for the next round.

Damansara were unlucky to lose 46-47 to Tamillan Juniors in their first round match. While the defeat was a biter pill to swallow for Damansara, they will have to their chance to avenge their defeat in the Premier League Kabaddi later next month.

Both teams are scheduled to clash against each other in their next league match.

It was also a bad day for the Kg Pandan teams. Both their squads – Kg Pandan Lions and Kg Pandan Tigers – were sent packing out of the knockout competition.

The Lions, undergoing major changes to their squad, were beaten 41-20 by Bukit Pelandok. It was the Lions fourth successive defeat in all competitions this year.

Their junior squad – Kg Pandan Tigers – also failed to shine as they were beaten 41-60 by Seremban.

Second seeds Tamillan Kabaddi put behind a nightmare outing against Segar in the Premier League by handing their rivals a 66-29 thrashing. Last month Segar were came within striking distance of defeating the Tamillans in the league, losing 62-63.

It was an easy day for the Sri Devi Dragons and Sri Devi Tigers. Their rivals – Karak and MIG Sentosa respectively – failed to show up for their matches.

The quarter-finals of the competition would be held on July 5.


KNOCKOUT CUP
MEN’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS: Seremban bt Kg Pandan Tigers 60-41; Tamillan Kabaddi bt Segar 66-29; Bukit Pelandok bt Kg Pandan Lions 41-20; Selayang bt Sri Devi Pumas 63-53; Tamillan Juniors bt Damansara 46-45; Sri Devi Dragons bt Karak walkover; Sri Devi Tigers bt MIG Sentosa walkover

Intriguing match-ups

The KAKL Knockout Cup competition will kick off this Sunday (April 26, 2009) in Batu Caves with some intriguing match-ups in store.

All ten teams from the Premier League Kabaddi (PLK) would be joined by four non-League teams in the first round competition.

Seremban, Bukit Pelandok, Karak and Sri Devi Pumas have decided to throw in their challenge in the competition.

Top seeds and PLK leaders Sri Devi Dragons have been drawn against Karak in their first round match.

The Dragons should have little problems in getting past the Pahang side. The Dragons have yet to lose in any of their matches in any competitions this year and the trend s expected to continue against Karak.

However, second seeds Tamillan Kabaddi will have to be at their best against Segar Kabaddi.

Segar Kabaddi came within a whisker of defeating the Tamillans, when the two teams last met in their league competition. Segar lost that match 62-63 and would be looking to turn the tables on their more experienced rivals.

The Tamillans have been struggling with fitness issues of late and can expect to be fully stretched by their fitter rivals.

In another first round match, darkhorses Selayang would be going up against Sri Devi Pumas. The Pumas comprise of mainly junior players and are not expected to trouble Selayang.

Kg Pandan Lions also have their work cut out for them as they will be up against the experienced Bukit Pelandok squad. Bukit Pelandok boasts of having a couple of Indian expatriate players and have the ability to upset the Lions.

The match between Sri Devi Tigers and MIG Sentosa is also likely to be a closely contested affair. MIG Sentosa powered by their former international M. Mahendran would be looking to quell the younger Tigers side.

The match between Seremban and Kg Pandan Tigers could also go either way as is the case with the match between Damansara and Tamillan Juniors.



SCHEDULE

9.30AM: SEREMBAN VS KG PANDAN TIGERS
10.30AM: TAMILLAN KABADDI VS SEGAR
11.30AM: KG PANDAN LIONS VS BUKIT PELANDOK
12.30PM: SELAYANG VS SRI DEVI PUMAS
1.30PM: DAMANSARA VS TAMILLAN JUNIORS
2.30PM: SRI DEVI DRAGONS VS KARAK
3.30PM: SRI DEVI TIGERS VS MIG SENTOSA

TV Shoot!

There will be a television shooting on kabaddi at the Sri Devi Grounds on Tuesday 21st April 2009 from 4.30pm.

Players are encouraged to attend the shoot in playing attire.

The shoot would be about the development of kabaddi in Malaysia.

KAKL KNOCKOUT CUP DRAW

The draw and team managers meeting for the KAKL Knockout Cup would be held as follows:

Date: Tuesday 21st April, 2009
Venue: Puchong 14th Mile
Time: 8.00pm

Please take note that all teams participating the Premier League are required to enter their teams for the competition.

As discussed at the last PLK meeting, we are also giving additional teams not in the PLK the opportunity to play in the tournament.

There will be no entry fees for PLK teams and RM 100 for non PLK teams.

We will accept a maximum of 16 teams for the each of the men's and women's competition.

Teams will play only the first round matches on Sunday 26th April 2009. Winners will qualify for the second round later this year.

GREETINGS!

HAPPY TAMIL NEW YEAR to all our readers. Also to those celebrating ONAM as well as VAISHAKI.

HIGH DRAMA

Hosts Damansara pick up their second win


There was high drama in the Premier League Kabaddi women’s top of the table clash between Sri Devi Princess and Segar Brights.

The Princess prevailed 63-41 in the tense encounter to confirm their status as the odds on favourites to clinch this seasons title.

Victory did not come easy for Princess, who were almost reduced to tears in the first half by the more dominant Brights.

The Brights, having beaten the Princess in the Rakan Muda Grasscourt Challenge last month, came our with all cylinders firing and were more organised. Their confidence showed as they raced to a comfortable 29-16 lead.

However, like many of the newer teams in the competition, the Brights were let down by their poor fitness level.

While the Princess were able to maintain their level of play in the second half, the Brights began to fade away as the match progressed.

The superior fitness of the Princess began to make a telling effect and they quickly erased the deficit and romped pass the bewildered Brights.

The victory puts the Princess on top of the league standings with an unblemished record after three matches.

The Brights are in second spot ahead of Sri Manjari in the six team competition.

In the men’s competition, the Sri Devi Dragons ran riot in their match against Kg Pandan Tigers, winning 102-18.

The result ensured that the side maintained their unbeaten run in the competition and lead the points standings with 10 points.

Despite missing three first choice players, the Dragons had enough in their arsenal against their young rivals.

Second placed Tamillan Kabaddi came off a jittery start to beat teammates Tamillan Juniors 54-46.

Both teams were locked in a tight battle in the early stages, but the senior side’s experience made all the difference in the match.

Tamillan Kabaddi are also on 10 points after five wins but with an inferior scoring rate compared to the Dragons.

Darkhorses Selayang won both their matches with consummate ease. They defeated Kg Pandan Tigers 82-31 and annihilated Segar 120-26. The wins puts them in third spot in the standings with eight points.

Hosts Damansara picked up their second win of the season when they defeated an out of sorts Sega 76-43. Segar failed to live to the form they showed in their match against Tamillan Kabaddi in the previous round.

PRINCESS UNDER SIEGE

Segar Brights will take on Sri Devi Princess in the top of the table clash in the Premier League Kabaddi (PLK) women’s competition at the Dataran Damansara, Kayu Ara Indah this Sunday.

Both teams are the only unbeaten teams in the women’s competition and a win would strengthen either team’s chances of lifting the crown this season.

The Princess did not play last week while the Brights come into the all-important clash with a comprehensive 83-43 demolition of Sri Devi Angels.

The two teams last meeting was in the first round of the Rakan Muda Grasscourt Kabaddi Challenge in March. The Brights stunned the Princess in that match and went on to win the title.

The Brights have a good chance of repeating the win if their key players Kalaivani and Yobaneswari can strike form.

The match between Sri Manjari and Segar Shines is also expected to be a closely contested match, judging from the fine form shown by the Shines in their 54-55 win over Damansara last week.

The men’s competition is likely to see table toppers Sri Devi Dragons and Tamillan Kabaddi keeping their winning ways.
The Dragons should have little problem against bottom placed Kg Pandan Tigers.

As for the Tamillans, they will be up against their teammates Tamillan Juniors. The Tamillans cannot afford to take it easy or they may find themselves in another tricky situation.

Last week the Tamillans were lucky to scrape through 63-62 against minnows Segar.

Darkhorses, Selayang will have their chance to move up to third spot in the league. The young squad should be able to best Kg Pandan Tigers and Segar to move up the ranks.

Early favourites Kg Pandan Lions, who have disappointed their fans so far, will have their work cut out this week.

They will face a determined MIG Sentosa in a match that should prove to be an entertaining affair.

Hosts Damansara would also be wary of Segar in their match. Segar showed tremendous improvement last week and have the capability to pull off an upset for their first win of the season.

SCHEDULE
MEN
9.30am: Tamillan Juniors vs Tamillan Kabaddi
10.30am: Selayang vs Kg Pandan Tigers
11.30am: Segar vs Damansara
12.30pm: Kg Pandan Lions vs MIG Sentosa
1.30pm: Tamillan Juniors vs Sri Devi Tigers
2.30pm: Sri Devi Dragons vs Kg Pandan Tigers
3.30pm: Segar vs Selayang

WOMEN
4.30pm: Sri Manjari vs Segar Shines
5.30pm: Sri Devi Princess vs Segar Brights

KAKL Knockout Cup

The KAKL Knockout Cup will take place as scheduled on Sunday April 26, 2009. The exact venue would be confirmed to the teams in due course.

All participating teams in the PLK League are entitled to field at least one team in the competition. Teams are allowed to field two teams but are not allowed to register additional or new players.

All PLK teams must participate in the tournament.

Competition would be held for both the men and women categories.

To add more interest in the competition, the organising committee has also decided to invite a number of teams not participating in the PLK. The participation of these teams would be on the sole discretion of the KAKL.

These teams would be required to pay a registration fee of RM 100.

The last date for confirmation of the teams would be April 12, 2009.

Note: All PLK teams are requested to update their team lists with the KAKL secretariat before 8th April 2009.