BSB, Rlys start as favourites

BSB, Rlys start as favourites
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, MAY 15: Reigning champions and hosts Banks' Sports Board (BSB) alongwith Haryana and Indian Railways, start as favourites in the men's section of the 47th National Kabaddi Championships, which kicks-off on Tuesday, April 16, with BSB taking on Gujurat, a comparatively easier side.

On the distaff side, Indian Railways are strong favourites with Maharashtra and Haryana likely to pose a threat to the 15-year-old strangled over the title. The competition in the women's section begins with Maharashtra facing Bihar.

BSB, led by BC Ramesh of State Bank of Mysore, are placed in Group A, followed by Indian Railways in Group B, Karnataka in Group C and Haryana in Group D and these four teams are expected to top their respective groups by virtue of which they will get an entry into the quarter-finals.

In all 27 teams will be participating in the men's section and have been divided into six groups. In Group E and F, Services, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are the four teams likely to make it to the pre-quarter-finals, along with second-placed teams from the first four groups.

Indian Railways are expected to sail through in the quarter-finals from Group A in the women's section. Maharashtra, who are in Group B, may face some resistance from Punjab but are expected to enter the round of eight.

Haryana and Karnataka are the two other teams from Group C and D, respectively, are expected to make it to the quarters.

If everything goes as per form and reputation, the women's title clash would be between traditional rivals Railways and Maharashtra. In all, there are 21 States/Units who have confirmed their participation.

BSB have held their training camp in Mumbai itself and so have Railways (men & women). For them the humidity and heat in the metropolis should not pose any problems.

Maharashtra, who haven't done well in the men's section for well over two decades, held their camp in South Maharashtra at Islampur in Sangli district which is quite surprising. HP have dropped out owing to examinations.

The groupings:

Men: Pool A: BSB Delhi Bihar Gujarat. Pool B: Railways, Bengal Uttar Pradesh Goa. Pool C: Karnataka Vidarbha HP Hyderabad. Pool D: Haryana Rajasthan MP Pondicherry Manipur. Pool E: Services Punjab J&K Orissa Kerala. Pool F: TN Maharashtra P&T Andhra Chandigarh.

Women: Pool A: Railways Andhra Gujarat MP TN. Pool B: Maharashtra Punjab Orissa Hyderabad Bihar. Pool C: Haryana Bengal Vidarbha Delhi Goa. Pool D: Karnataka, Manipur, Chandigarh, Kerala, UP and P&T.