Ahmedabad: India bounced back in style as they crushed Australia 54-20 to record their first win of the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup here Saturday.
After losing to Korea in their opening match Friday, India needed to make a statement and they did it in an emphatic manner. Ajay Thakur was top scorer for India and scored seven points. Indian defence began strongly as they sent two Australian players on the bench and raced into a 3-0 lead after two minutes. Pardeep scored with his first raid in fourth minute as India led 6-0. An all out was inflicted by India in the fifth minute as they took a commanding 10-0 lead.
Australia scored their first point as Campbell Brown got a bonus in the sixth minute. Deepak Niwas Hooda scored with a raid as India led 13-1 after seven minutes. India came out all guns blazing as they inflicted another all out in the 11th minute to lead 20-2.
Pardeep Narwal scored five raid points while Manjeet Chhillar got a high five for India. India were well on top at the end of first half and led 32-7 at the break. The second half began with India inflicting an all out in the 21st minute to lead 35-7.
Thomas Sharp scored first touch point of the match for Australia in the 22nd minute. Australia were still looking for their first tackle point as India led 38-9 after 26 minutes. Rahul Chaudhari came on in the 29th minute and immediately scored with his raid as India led 41-12 after 30 minutes. Rahul scored two points with a raid in the 34th minute as India took an unassailable 45-14 lead. A fourth all out was inflicted by India in the 36th minute to lead 49-15.
Australian captain Campbell Brown scored five points for Australia. Kuldeep Singh scored Australia’s first super raid.
Indo-Asian News Service
