Pakistan finish with kabaddi bronze after losing to India
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan on Friday had to content with a bronze medal when they were humiliated by India 61-14 in the 19th Asian Games men’s kabaddi event semi-finals at the Xiaoshan Guaili Sports Centre in Hangzhou.
It was another pathetic display from Pakistan team which had also been bulldozed by Iran in their opener.
The Pakistani lot failed to impress both in attack and defence with India showing top prowess to notch a major win. Pakistan had also finished with a bronze in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
The bronze also took Pakistan’s medal-tally to three which includes one silver and two bronze. Pakistan trail at the 30th spot in tbe Games which will be closed on Sunday (tomorrow)
Meanwhile in the other semi-final holders Iran downed Chinese Taipei 47-24 to set final date with India. The final will be held on Saturday (today).
Wrestling: Pakistan’s seasoned wrestler Mohammad Bilal failed to impress and was exited after he was whipped by Rakhat Kalzhan of Kzakhstan 10-0 in the 57 kilogramme pre-quarter-final at the Linan Sports Culture and Exhibition Centre.
Now in the 74kg pre-quarter-finals Youth Olympics bronze medallist Inayatullah will face China’s Feng Lu on Saturday (today). Also on Saturday Zaman Anwar will meet Amir Hossein Zare of Iran in the 125kg pre-quarter-finals while Haider Ali will face Uzbekistan’s Javrail Shapiev also in the 86kg pre-quarter-finals.
Karate: Pakistan’s karatekas also failed to earn a medal for the country. Hamayun and Mohammad Awais did not click at a stage when it mattered the most at the Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Hamayun took a fine start when he downed Julio Quefi da Silva of Timore Leste 2-0 in the men’s kumite -60kg round of 16.
However he was beaten by Jordan’s Abdallah Hammad 8-2 in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile Mohammad Awais badly lost his +84kg quarter-finals against Iran’s Sajad Ganjzadeh 9-1. However he was given repechage and there his opponent from Lao did not appear which took him to the bronze medal fight where he lost to Thailand’s Teerawat Kangtong 5-3 to face an exit.
In the women’s -55kg kumite round of 16 Pakistan’s last hope Sabira Gul will meet Vicheka Sok Lim of Cambodia on Saturday (today).
Weightlifting: Pakistani super heavyweight weightlifter Abdullah Butt will compete on Saturday (today).
Furqan Anwar and Usman Amjad Rathore have already competed in their respective weight categories without getting any prominent positions as they both were part of Group B.
Men’s cricket: Noor Ali Zadran (39) and Gulbadin Naib (26) did a fine job with the bat while Farid Ahmed took three wickets as Afghanistan conquered Pakistan by four wickets in the semi-final of the men’s cricket event of the quadrennial extravaganza in Hangzhou.
The duo did a fine job as Afghanistan achieved the 116-run target with 13 balls to spare after losing six wickets in the process.
Zadran smashed two sixes and four fours in his 33-ball knock while Naib smacked three sixes and one four in his fine 19-ball unbeaten feat.
Leggie Usman Qadir was the pick of the bowlers with 2-20 in four overs.
Earlier Pakistan were folded for just 115 in 18 overs with opener Omair Bin Yousuf top-scoring 19-ball 24 with one six and two fours.
Aamir Jamal (14), Arafat Minhas (13) and Rohail Nazir (10) were the other main contributors.
Farid Ahmed Malik got 3-15 in three overs while leggie Qais Ahmed and Zahir Khan Pakten got two wickets each.
In the other semi-final India defeated Bangladesh by nine wickets. Pakistan now on Saturday (today) will meet Bangladesh in the bronze medal match.