New Delhi, February 16: Riding on some brilliant performances and skillful display on the mat Andhra Pradesh's P Siva Reddy was awarded with the Best Pole Diver award at the KKFI's 2021 Super League Kho Kho Championship. The 21-year-old all-rounder, who represented Team Cheetahs in the championship which was played as part of the KKFI and Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK)-organised first-ever High-Performance Evaluation and Scientific Assessment training camp, also received INR 50,000 with the award.
Despite impressive performances from Reddy, Cheetahs did not qualify for the finals as they lost to Pahadi Billas by seven points (41-34) in the semi-finals. Maharashtra’s Pratik Waikar continued his spectacular show to power Pahadi Billas to the trophy with a convincing six points win (31-25) against Panthers in the thrilling final played at the gleaming Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here in New Delhi.
The winners and runners-up team in the men’s event received 2 lakh and 1.50 lakh prize money respectively while third and fourth ranked teams bagged 50 thousand each. The women teams received 30 thousand each.
Three Maharashtra players picked the best achievement awards for their fine run in the tournament. Ramji Kashyap of Solapur was adjudged the Best Chaser and Thane’s Mahesh Shinde received the Best Runner Award with each of them receiving INR 50,000. While the Best Wazir of the Championship Award and INR 75,000 was won by Abhinandan Patil of Kolhapur. Madhya Pradesh’s Sachin Bhargo won INR 50,000 for posing the best skydives in the championship.
In the women’s tournament, Panthers emerged as the winner with a dominating show throughout the tournament. On the final day they secured nine points win against Cheetahs to clinch their fourth successive victory and also the trophy with an unbeaten record.
