Kabaddi World Cup 2020: Canada, Iran, England cruise past rivals

LAHORE: Canada kicked off Faisalabad leg of Kabaddi World Cup 2020 with a close 40-31 victory against Azerbaijan while Iran whipped Germany by a huge margin of 55-23 in the second match on the 4th day of grand tournament at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Wednesday. England kabaddi team thrashed Sierra Leone by 41-26 in third match of the day.

Canada’s Naveen was adjudged best raider while the title of best stopper went to Canada’s Ravi Kumar in the first match. Iran’s Mesal Muhammadi and captain Ali Safari were declared best raider and stopper of the second match respectively. Azerbaijan won toss but they could not launch their campaign against comparatively strong Canada team with confidence. Canadian raiders and stoppers took initiative but Azerbaijan offered some resistance in the middle stages of the exciting clash and managed to minimize the margin of defeat but Canada emerged winners.

In the second match, Iran won the toss and dominated the match proceedings from the beginning. Iran were leading by 18-7 at the end of first quarter, 44-19 at the end of second quarter and finally wrapped up their comfortable triumph with a score of 55-23. Iran’s raider Mustafa Sadqi, Mustafa Pheeni, Mir Muhammdi and Germany’s Manpreet Singh Manna got huge appreciation from the large crowd due to their impressive performance in the match.

Schedule of Feb 13 matches: Iran will face India in the first match at 1.30pm while the second match will be played between Sierra Leone and Germany at 2.45pm. Hosts Pakistan will take on Australian kabaddi team at 4.00pm in the third and last match of the 5th day activity.

Advisor to CM Punjab on Sports Malik Umer Farooq, MPA Latif Gujjar, Secretary Youth Affairs, Sports Punjab Ehsan Bhutta and DG Sports Punjab Adnan Arshad Aulakh were the guests of honour at Iqbal Stadium.

DC Faisalabad Muhammad Ali, CPO M Sohail Ch, President Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) Ch Shafay Hussain, Secretary PKF Rana Sarwar and other top officials were also present on this occasion. The kabaddi teams were warmly received upon reaching Faisalabad. The kabaddi lovers also witnessed entertaining horse dance on this occasion. It is pertinent mention here that Kabaddi World Cup 2020 is being organized jointly by Punjab govt, Sports Board Punjab and PKF at three cities of Punjab Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujrat from February 9 to 16, 2020.