INDIA
FIRM FAVOURITE TO RETAIN THEIR CROWN
Mumbai, 23rd Jan 07 : Holders India are firm favourite
to retain the crown they won in the first ever World Cup
Kabaddi held two years ago in Mumbai. Led by strongly
built Pankaj Shirsat, the Indian team would be raring
to have a go at their opponents in their quest to retain
the crown. The tournament to be played on a synthetic
surface will provide a good opportunity for the kabaddi
lovers from Panvel and the adjoining areas from Raigad
district to watch modern kabaddi which is vastly different
from the one played on mud pitches around the country.
The synthetic surface has proved to be a good catalyst
for kabaddi to go global.
The hosts Karnala Sports Academy, Panvel have left no
stone unturned in preparing a venue befitting the status
of the competition. The stadium designed like an ancient
Roman arena for bull fight is capable of accommodating
about ten thousand spectators with every one of them in
a position to get an unhindered view of the simultaneous
proceedings on two courts. The playing arena is two and
half feet below the ground level and will accommodate
the media on its periphery. The tournament which commences
on Jan 24th will witness 16 matches on that day followed
by the remaining 8 matches to be played upto noon the
next day. In the evening all the four quarter final matches
will be played. The semi finals and finals are slated
for 26th of January 2007.
All the teams have already arrived except Pakistan who
are yet to receive the clearance from the Indian government.
In the absence of Pakistan Iran , Bangladesh, Japan stand
a good chance of making it to the finals. The Japanese
incidentally had played well in the just concluded asian
games where they held mighty Iran in the league phase
of the competition. Iran though lacking in the finer techniques
had done well in the last edition where they fizzled out
against the host after a stiff fight initially. The Iranians
and the West Indians practiced today at the Karnala Sports
Academy. to have a first hand feel of the ground and the
conditions around. West Indians have a team comprising
mostly of Rugby players while Iranians are no strangers
to this game as back home they play “Zu” a
game quite similar to kabaddi. Japan and Korea , two nations
from far east practicing their own martial arts will be
a handful to their opponents with their lightning speed
and reflexes. Bangladesh a force which can not be ignored
have their task cut out as they have Japan in their group
as they are likely to run into Iran or South Korea in
the last eight stage.
Doordarshan Sports will be telecasting the event live
on all three days. DD’s regional channel Sahyadri
will also beem live with Marathi commentry for the benefit
of the rural masses.
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