Kabaddi team’s winning streak continues

Pakistan crush Argentina for third consecutive win at World Cup.

KARACHI: Pakistan won their third successive match in the Kabaddi World Cup, recording a convincing 82-11 victory over Argentina in Gurdaspur, India.

Pakistan, placed in the seven-team Group B, were indebted to Abdullah Lala who scored 15 points while Amir Jutt recorded 10 as they outplayed Argentina.

After suffering a first-match defeat to the US, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka and Italy before overcoming Argentina to increase  their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals, a view echoed by an official of the country’s kabaddi federation.

“We can predict the US and Pakistan making it to the semi-finals,” Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) Secretary Mohammad Sarwar told The Express Tribune. “We have matches against Norway and Spain and I’m hoping for a good performance. Losing against the US was disappointing but it’s understandable how they won. One of their players tested positive for doping and it shows they cheated.”

Players suspended for positive dope tests

Meanwhile, the organising secretary at the World Cup Sikandar Singh Maloka said that players, who tested positive for banned substances, were suspended but the results of matches would stand.

“At first a few teams asked us to reverse the results of the matches which featured suspended players,” said Maloka. “But we are going to continue with the current points table because what’s done is done. If we reverse the results now, it will just add to the confusion.”

Pakistan dropped Imtiaz Alam from the squad after the player tested positive before the start of the tournament. Players from Canada, UK, Australia and Italy have also tested positive for banned substances.

Meanwhile, Norway defeated Sri Lanka 53-24 and Italy outplayed Spain 52-31.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th,  2011.