In a match contested between two kabaddi giants, India beat a resolute Iran side 38-29 to Kabaddi World Cup for the third time in a row. Riding on a terrific performance by Ajay Thakur’s 12 points, the hosts produced a strong comeback in the second half at the TransStadia Arena in Ahmedabad on Saturday to send the packed crowd into raptures.
The final was like a boxing bout as both teams traded punches and gave it as good as they got. India struck the early blows as Sandeep Narwal and Ajay Thakur scored raid points to lead 2-0 in the third minute. Meraj Sheykh scored Iran’s first point as they leveled the game at 2-2 in the fourth minute. Iran’s defence were up for it as they contained Pardeep Narwal effectively and then sent Ajay Thakur to the bench to lead 5-4 in the eighth minute.
The match lived up to its expectations as both teams fought hard and refused to give an inch. Skipper Anup Kumar scored his trademark bonus point to level the scores at 6-6 in the 10th minute. Meraj Sheykh scored with an excellent raid and reduced India to just three men as Iran led 9-7 in the 13th minute. India’s defence had a below par first 15 minutes as they scored just one tackle point. Iran reduced India to just two men but a brilliant super tackle by Mohit Chhillar the 16th minute to cut the lead to just one point again.
Meraj Sheykh continued to be a thorn in the Indian defence but Nitin Tomar came up with a brilliant raid and scored two points in the 18th minute as India trailed 11-12. India were again reduced to just one man and Iran inflicted the first all out of the match in the 19th minute to lead 16-12. The first half belonged Iran’s defence as they did a brilliant job on Indian raiders as they led 18-13 at the end of the first half. Both Manjeet Chhillar and Pardeep Narwal scored zero points and their subdued performances hurt India’s chances.
Iran made India commit errors as Meraj Sheykh forced Manjeet Chhillar off the court during a raid to lead 19-13 in the 23rd minute. Ajay Thakur scored two points in the 25th minute as India cut the lead to three points and sent Fazel Atrachali and Meraj Sheykh to the bench. Iran sent Pardeep Narwal to the bench yet again as they led 20-17 in the 28th minute. The tide turned for India when Ajay Thakur scored his ninth point in the 29th minute to level the game at 20-20. India inflicted their first all out the match in the 30th minute to lead 24-21 as they took their biggest lead of the match.
The all out was perhaps the fillip India needed as Ajay Thakur completed his super 10 and sent Meraj Sheykh to the bench. India led 26-21 with nine minutes to go. TransStadia Arena was a cauldron of noise and passion as India played it smart once they had the lead.
Nitin Tomar produced another excellent raid in the 34th minute as India led 29-22 and reduced Iran to just two men. Fazel Atrachali forced a super tackle in the 35th minute as Iran trailed 24-29. Ajay Thakur all but sealed the match in India’s favour in the 37th minute as he scored two points and India inflicted another all out to take an unassailable 34-24 lead. Meraj Sheykh scored with a two-point raid in the 28th minute as Iran trailed 27-34.
Surjeet, however, produced an excellent tackle on Sheykh in the 39th minute as India led 35-27. A terrific second half performance saw India emerge victorious as they won 38-29 to become the world champions for the third time.
