16 October,2016 10:47 AM IST | | Agencies
Favourites India defeated Argentina 74-20 to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the the Kabaddi World Cup here on Saturday
Action from the India versus Argentina match in Ahmedabad on Saturday
Action from the India versus Argentina match in Ahmedabad on Saturday
Ahmedabad: Favourites India defeated Argentina 74-20 to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the the Kabaddi World Cup here on Saturday.
India hardly broke sweat as Rahul Chaudhari and Ajay Thakur combined to score 25 raid points between them. Manjeet Chhillar and Surender attained a high five each to score 11 points to lead India's charge.
India are second in group B with 16 points from three games whereas bottom-placed Argentina are yet to open their account after four games.
On Saturday, it was one way traffic as India created a record of most tackles in a World Cup match.
India made a swift start and led 3-0 after three minutes. Nahuel Villamayor opened Argentina's account in the second minute to trail 1-3.
Pardeep and Sandeep Narwal scored a point apiece as India led 6-1 before Thakur made a successful raid in the fifth minute to help extend India's led to 9-3.
The hosts immediately inflicted an all out in the sixth minute to lead 12-3.
Thakur led the scoring charts for India in the first half and scored 11 points.
Surjeet was a rock at the back for India and achieved a high five in the first half as India inflicted another all out in the 19th minute to lead 35-11.
Argentina were no match for India and struggled to cope with India's superiority in all departments. Narwal scored five points for India in the first half as India led 36-13 at the break.
After the break, Thakur attained a super ten in the 22nd minute as India led 38-13.
India didn't relent at any point in the second half as they led 41-13 after 24 minutes.
An all out was again inflicted by the home boys in the 25th minute to take the lead to 45-13. Chaudhari came on as a substitute on the 26th minute to score his first point as India led 47-15.
He scored two more points in the 28th minute to give India 50-15 lead.
Just after Villamayor bagged seven points for Argentina in the 30th minute, India did not lose any time to inflict another all out to extend their lead to 58-15.
With less than four minutes to go for the final hooter, India inflicted another all out to lead 68-17.
Chaudhari scored 10 points in the second half alone as Argentina struggled to cope with him.
India led 73-19 as Kiran Parmar scored with a two-point raid in the 40th minute to finally thrash the South American nation with a record margin.
Earlier, South Korea assured themselves of a semi-final berth after comfortably beating Australia 63-25.
In another game, Iran notched a tough 38-34 win over Japan to continue their unbeaten run.
