The Kabaddi World Cup kicks off on Friday in Ahmedabad after a gap of nine years. Defending champions India will look to win their third World Cup on trot in a sport that they have dominated since its inception. It's not the first time that India is hosting the World Cup. They have hosted it twice before and have won on both occasions.
However, along with team India, 11 other teams are eyeing the coveted title and will make sure that they give it their best to dethrone the champions on home soil. The teams were divided into two pools of six teams each. Pool A features India, South Korea, Australia, England, Bangladesh and Argentina, while Pool B has two-time runners-up Iran, Thailand, Japan, the United States, Poland and Kenya.
Invincible team India?
India are undisputed favourites to win the World Cup. They have the best raiders and defenders in the world at their disposal and it will be next to impossible for other teams to dethrone the champions. The entire squad of 14 players have match winners and can single handedly take the team into the final if required. With captain Anup Kumar, Manjeet Chillar, Rahul Chaudhari, Sandeep Narwal, Ajay Thakur, among others, India has the firepower that make them an invincible squad to conquer. They are the dream team according to many and will make sure that they win their third World Cup on the trot on October 22.
The domestic Pro Kabaddi League gave India the required edge to understand their opponents from different countries and the hosts will look to captialise on what they have learnt and make sure to get the basics right. With India’s bench strength, if a Chillar or a Narwal have an off day, it will not be an issue for the Indian team as they have more than capable players to replace.
Their only weakness can be that of complacency. India will look to put it at bay when they step foot on the mat. Keeping themselves motivated as well will be another issue to address because they have never really been threatened for the title over the years. Only Iran managed to give them a scare once in the 2014 Asian Games. It will be difficult for coach Balwant Singh to keep his boys fresh throughout the tournament and he will look to rotate his players whenever possible. Even selecting the playing seven will be a tough task given the quality of the side and the players it has.
India’s road to a third final
The World Cup will begin with India taking on their toughest opponents in the group, South Korea, in a round robin league format. With the Pro Kabaddi league already four seasons old, Seong Ryeol Kim and Jang Kun Lee have the experience required to shock India in the opening bout. On Saturday, India will face the mighty Australian team, who will look to outplay the World Champions.
However, on October 11, India will take on Bangladesh in what promises to be a fiery encounter between the neighbours. India will then face a stern test against Argentina on October 15 and then take on England on October 17, who are capable of springing a surprise. The defending champions are favourites to top the group and will face the second-placed team in Group B in the semis. The winner will feature in the World Cup final on October 22.
Teams to watch out for
Iran
If you were to bet for any other team that can win the World Cup apart from India, it has to be Iran. Their rise in the field of Kabaddi has been exceptional and in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, they took the fight to India by taking an eight-point lead at half-time. However, Indians fought back valiantly to win 27-25 in the final. Iran have been runners-up in the previous two editions of the World Cup, losing in 2004 and 2007 against India. But thanks to the Pro Kabaddi League, the Iranian team has that extra edge against India this time around. Fazel Atrachali, Meraj Sheykh, Hadi Oshtorak and Abolfazel Maghsodlou are the main threats to India’s hat-trick of world titles.
South Korea
Another team that can go all the way to win the title is South Korea owing to their rapid rise and hunger to prove that they are also champion pedigree. They are India’s biggest threat in the Group A. Korea won the bronze medal at the 2016 Asian Games and will hope to continue their rich form in Ahmedabad. With players such as Jang-Kun Lee, Eom Tae-deok, Kim Seong-ryeol and Hong Dong-ju, who have played in the Pro Kabbadi League, experience and training with the Indian nationals is going to benefit them immensely.
Bangladesh
Kabaddi is the national sport of Bangladesh and, hence, they are title contenders without a doubt. They have won three silver and two bronze medals at the Asian Games and finished third in the previous two World Cups. In the Pro Kabaddi League Mohammed Aruduzzaman Munshi, Mohammed Zakir Hossain and Mohammed Tuhin Tarefder were part of the tournament and will look to teach their teammates the tactics and strategies they learnt during their Indian stay to cause an upset in the World Cup.