The Indian Men’s Kabaddi team got off to a winning start at the ongoing South Asian Games 2019, thrashing Sri Lanka 49-16.
The Day 2 opener, played at the APF Hall Chowk, Kathmandu, saw defending champions, India, dominating right from the beginning. Sri Lanka, on their part, came on the back of an optimistic win over Pakistan, but were left stranded, as they failed to perceive India’s attacking approach.
Captain Deepak Niwas Hooda lead his team from the front and his men hardly had to put any effort in cruising into a comfortable lead. By the stroke of half-time, the likes of Naveen Kumar and Pawan Sehrawat guided India to an impressive 25-9 lead.
The South Asian Games offers the Indian contingent a great opportunity of testing their bench strength, and the substitutes duly delivered what was expected. Nitesh Kumar and Darshan Kadian were brought in for the second period and the latter’s quick-witted style added further misery to Sri Lanka’s fate, and gave India some important bonus points.
India soon established a 26-point lead and there was no coming back for the Lankans from that point on. Naveen Kumar came out on top in the final raid as India sealed the win in style.
The team is now set to lock horns with Pakistan in the evening session of Day 3 of the South Asian Games on Friday.
Women’s team rise to the occasion
Day 1 of the South Asian Games saw the Indian women’s team also displaying their quality their Sri Lankan counterparts all ends up. Led by their captain, Priyanka the team registered a thumping 53-14 win in the opener.
Such was India’s dominance on the day that they cruised to an 18-point lead in the beginning. The scorecard read 25-7 by half-time, and it remained a one-sided affair throughout.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @KabaddibySW
