Kabaddi World Cup 2016 | India bounce back in style with thumping win over Australia
Hosts India erased the disappointment of yesterday's close loss to Korea with a thumping 54-20 victory over Australia in their second group match today. Ajay Thakur put up a brilliant attacking display, while Manjeet Chhillar held fort for India at the defence as India held on for a one-sided win.
Sandeep Narwal, who was handed his first start of the tournament, repaid his coach's belief in him in the very first raid as he tackled Campbell Brown right off the mat. Captain Anup Kumar extended his points tally for the by scoring a quick bonus point.
Surjeet joined the action as he tackled Thomas Sharp to extend the lead to 3-0. After a Deepak Hooda empty raid, Manjeet Chhillar tackled Nicholas Cunningham to take the score to 4-0.
Pardeep Narwal earned the Indian team's raid point with a touch on Kuldeep Singh. The Aussies struggled with their raids as Surjeet earned yet another tackle point after tackling Benjamin Nugent to the ground.
Australian Jasvir Singh found himself on the bench after Sandeep Narwal touched him out of the game. After an empty by Dominick Lo Presti, Sandeep second successful tackle in as many attempts to inflict the first all-out on the Australians taking the score to 10-0 in just over two minutes.
Australia got onto the score-sheet after Campbell Brown got a bonus point. India responded with a bonus point of their own with Pradeep Narwal. Following an empty raid by Kuldeep Singh, Anup Kumar sent him packing with a touch point. For the first time in the match, the crowd saw two consecutive empty raids by Nicholas Cunningham and Anup Kumar.
Nicholas Cunningham tried to take another bite of the cherry but was met by Manjeet Chhillar who was in no mood to let him take another point after the Australian had already earned the bonus point. Deepak Hooda's successful raid was followed by Jasvir Singh's empty one. When Deepak got a touch on Jasvir in the next raid, India established a huge lead of 20-2.
After the second all-out, the lost its frantic pace as the Australians understood that playing at India's place was leading them nowhere. India earned the first touch points through Pradeep Narwal, who also earned a bonus point.
Nicholas Cunningham touch on Dharmaraj Cheralathan was cheered by the Indian crowd who finally saw their team show up after the disappointing defeat against South Korea.
Pradeep Narwal made way for Ajay Thakur as India took their foot off the pedal. After a few empty raids, Australia earned a couple of more bonus points before Manjeet Chhillar put a stop to the good Australian run when he hacked down Campbell Brown as the scoreboard read 26-5.
Australia tried to put pressure on India when Anup Kumar was touched out of the game by Kuldeep Singh but Ajay Thakur fought back by eliminating Campbell Brown from the mat.
An empty raid by the Australian Jasvir brought the game to half-time with the scored at 32-7.
The first raid of the second half saw Deepak Hooda's touch on Jasvir Singh inflict yet another all-out on the team from down under as the scoreboard read 35-7
Australia got their third touch point through Thomas Sharp whose touch on Nitin Tomar was enough to send the latter to the bench. Deepak Hooda sent Jasvir Singh and Kuldeep Singh packing with a single raid as the score reached 37-8.
Manjeet Chhillar was sent back by Campbell Brown with a brilliant touch. India took their foot off the gas after the 25th minute as they allowed the Aussies easy bonus points while going in for two consecutive empty raids.
However, when Matthew Kos took Sandeep Narwal out of the game, Ajay Thakur returned the favor with a touch on Dominick Lo Presti taking the score to 39-11.
Kuldeep Singh got another touch on Rahul Chaudhari before Ajay Thakur put both Dominick Lo Presti and Kuldeep Singh back on the bench as the scoreboard 43-17. Rahul Chaudhari, who was revived after the Ajay Thakur raid sent Jasvir Singh and Benjamin Nugent toward the dug-out.
Minutes later, Australia
India will be happy with
