However, in the game played simultaneously on an adjacent court, Karnataka women squandered their slim half-time lead to lose 20-32 to West Bengal.

It was Punjab who called the shots early in the game. They sent all the rival players out in ten minutes to earn a lona.

The hosts gradually seized the initiative and scored in fits and starts. Raider Ramkumar was the first Punjab player to be caught when he was ensnared at the rival baulk-line. Karnataka pressed home the advantage and crossed over 29-13 ahead.

On resumption, the hosts found the goings easy with N Venkatesh breathing down the rival neck with his gutsy raids. Skipper BC Suresh, Sreenivas Murthy and Muniraju came up withexcellent support to N Venkatesh and the team earned two more lonas to seal the issue.

Ramkumar, Sukhwinder and Nachhatar Singh excelled for Punjab.

In the women's section Karnataka women themselves were to be blamed for the defeat as they put up a spineless fight in the second session.

After leading 12-11 in the first session, they failed to sustain the tempo, to some extent, due to complacency.

Captain Padmavathi was caught in the rival half time and again.

On the other hand, Bengal upstaged them in both raiding and catching. The final score read 32-20 in favour of West Bengal. The threesome of Rita Das, Sushma Das and Krishna Das shone in their ranks.