Kabaddi World Cup: Pakistan to face Canada in semis

US kicked out of kabaddi World Cup, Italy to play India in last-four encounter.

KARACHI: In a bizarre situation, US were kicked out of the kabaddi World Cup after their players refused to take a doping test prior to the team’s last-four clash of the event underway in India, prompting the organisers to change the entire semi-final lineup.

Pakistan, who were scheduled to play India in the semi-final, will now face Canada today while the hosts fight Italy, who replace the US, in the other last-four encounter.

The World Cup was already marred by several players testing positive for banned substances, leading the organisers to conduct frequent dope tests. Their decision to conduct a test on the US, who already had three players test positive, was followed by a refusal by the team to take the tests.

Italy, who finished behind Pakistan in group B, earned the right to play the semi-final after the US were kicked out.

Despite the tournament being tainted with doping issues, the organisers were pleased with the possibility of an India-Pakistan final.

“Frankly speaking, we wanted to have an India-Pakistan final all along,” the kabaddi World Cup Organising Secretary Sikandar Singh Maloka told The Express Tribune. “We were a little  worried when the US topped group B and Pakistan were placed second.

“But now there’s a possibility of the arch-rivals playing the final.”

Earlier, Pakistan beat Spain 62-14 in their last group B match, dominating their opponents throughout
the encounter.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th,  2011.