New Delhi, 11 October (H.S.):

Ayodhya Garjan edged past Rajasthan Spikers 2-1 in a fiercely contested encounter in the Volleyball Champions League (VCL). The match, played on Saturday at the Noida Indoor Stadium in Noida, witnessed an intense battle between the two sides, with both teams fighting hard for every point.

Ayodhya Garjan made an impressive start, winning the opening set 21-20. They maintained their momentum in the second set, securing a 21-19 victory to take a commanding lead in the match. Rajasthan Spikers fought back in the third set, winning it 21-19, but Ayodhya Garjan's victories in the first two sets proved decisive as they sealed a 2-1 win.

Rajasthan Spikers' Aniket was named Player of the Match for his performance, while Ayodhya Garjan's Mukul Rana received the Impact Player of the Match award for his contribution to the team's victory.

Speaking after the win, Mukul Rana said, “It was a tough match, and Rajasthan gave us a strong challenge in all three sets. We knew we had to stay focused and, in particular, make the most of the crucial points in the first two sets. The team displayed good coordination and continued to fight until the very end. I am happy that we managed to secure the victory. We will look to build on this performance and maintain our momentum in the upcoming matches.”

In another Volleyball Champions League encounter, Hooghly Hitters staged an impressive comeback to defeat Delhi Dynamites 2-1. After losing the opening set, Hooghly recovered strongly to secure a hard-fought victory.

Delhi Dynamites started on a positive note, winning the first set 21-14 and putting Hooghly Hitters under pressure. However, Hooghly raised their level of play in the second set, winning it 21-18 to draw level at 1-1.

The decisive third set saw both teams engage in a closely fought contest. Hooghly Hitters maintained their composure in the closing stages and clinched the set 21-19 to complete a 2-1 comeback victory.

Harnamol Singh was named Player of the Match for his significant contribution to Hooghly Hitters' victory, while his teammate Rajat Kumar received the Impact Player award.

Speaking after the win, Harnamol Singh said, “After losing the first set, we knew the match would be difficult, but the team stayed focused and supported one another. We made the necessary adjustments to our game, fought for every point and showed tremendous composure in the final set. This victory reflects the team's fighting spirit and belief in itself.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar