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India thrash Kenya for second successive win

World champions India cruised to a 48-19 win over Kenya to pick their second successive win and lead group A…

India thrash Kenya for second successive win

Indian Kabbadi team (Photo: Twitter/@DS_Khimsar)

World champions India cruised to a 48-19 win over Kenya to pick their second successive win and lead group A in the Kabaddi Masters Dubai here today.

The most expensive kabaddi player Monu Goyat, who was sold for Rs 1.51 crore in the Pro Kabaddi League earlier this year, made a splendid debut picking 10 raid points.

On a day India captain Ajay Thakur looked lackluster, it was a tale of another debutant as Rishank Devadiga stole the show with his 13 raid points to hand India an easy win.

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The Haryana Steelers player Goyat looked brilliant with his raids as despite a strong Kenyan defence he managed to get over the line.

Thakur gave India the first point before Goyat straightway got into action to give a 2-0 lead.

But gradually Kenyans got into the groove confusing Indian defence to earn seven points inside 10 minutes. The Ajay Thakur-led Indians however ensured that it does not get worse with Deepak Hooda doubling up as a raider.

Thakur looked a bit lacklustre as he gave more opportunity to in-form Rishank Devadiga and Hooda to get their campaign back on track as India led 27-9 at the break.

It was a slow start to the second half as both teams could score just five points.

Mosambayi got another raid point for Kenya in the 26th minute as they trailed 12-30. Goyat came up with a moment of individual brilliance and scored with a four-point raid in the 28th minute to give India 34-12 lead.

India inflicted the third all out of the match to lead 37-12 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

India asserted their supremacy in the match as they scored 12 straight points to open up a commanding 30-point lead.

Kenya then scored much-needed points with a successful raid and tackle but still trailed 15-44 after 36 minutes. Devadiga produced a super raid in the 38th minute to give India 47-15 lead.

In the last minute Kenya scored with a two-point raid but came up short against a much superior Indian side.

The match was attended by chief administrative secretary ministry of sports, government of Kenya, Hassan Noor Hassan who strongly pitched for kabaddi’s inclusion in the Olympics.

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