Dubai: India’s unbeaten run continued in the Kabaddi Masters Dubai at Al Wasl Sports Complex on Tuesday. They trounced Kenya 50-15 in their last match of the group stage. So dominant have India been against all their rivals that they have hardly faced a fight up to now.
India will meet South Korea in the semi-final on Friday. In another match, Iran defeated Argentina 57-27 with another fine allround performance.
The star performers in India’s victory were Rahul Chaudhari and Pardeep Narwal. They gave a tough time to the Kenyan defence. Chaudhari scored eight points while Narwal chipped in with nine points.
For Kenya, except for Victor Obiero, none of the players were able to raise their game to challenge the Indians.
India were off to a brilliant start with a bonus point in the very first minute. India raced to a 5-0 lead after four minutes, pushing Kenya on the back foot at every stage. Within five minutes, India were up 11-0.
Kenya could open their account only in the sixth minute with a raid point in the sixth minute. In the eighth minute, they even managed to send Narwal to the bench.
Chaudhari scored two raid points in quick succession to lift India to an 18-4 lead. India inflicted another all out in the 16th minute to extent the lead to 24-4. The first half ended with India ahead by 24 points.
When Kenya struggled for points, India came up with another all-out attack in the 24th minute to extend their lead to 36-5. Kenya could muster get their first point of the second half only in the 27th minute. Obiero came up with a super raid in the 33rd minute but still Kenya trailed 13-43.
India eased the pressure on Kenya but Surjeet came up with a super raid towards the end and steered India to an emphatic 50-15 win.
In Iran’s impressive win over Argentina, Saeed Gaffari and Kazem Naseri scored seven points each. Iran too are unbeaten in the tournament.
