Pakistan, India register emphatic wins

KARACHI: Title contenders Pakistan and India registered their third successive wins when they downed Afghanistan and Nepal, respectively, in their third round matches of the 3rd Asian Kabaddi Championship at POF Wah on Wednesday.

Pakistan crushed Afghanistan 43-13. Pakistani raiders and stoppers completely dominated the game, never allowing the Afghanis any chance of retaliation.

Pakistan had also beaten Iran and Sri Lanka in one-sided affairs.

India crushed minnows Nepal 48-16 to rise to six points with two games yet in hand.

Iran whipped Sri Lanka 36-10, their second victory in the event.

The match between Pakistan and India on Friday (tomorrow) is expected to serve as the final of the six-nation affair.

As per rules, if India-Pakistan game ended in a draw the title winners would be decided on points average (points scored and points conceded).

Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) secretary Mohammad Sarwar told ‘The News’ on Wednesday that the spectators’ number was not as high as was seen in the previous event which was organised at a major venue in Lahore.

In the previous edition held at Punjab Stadium in Lahore in 2012 Pakistan defeated India in the final. It had ended in a controversial fashion after India forfeited the last five minutes of the game accusing umpires of favouring Pakistan. In this edition neutral umpires have been hired to avoid any controversy.