India beat Iran 44-26 in the Kabaddi Masters final in Dubai on Saturday to reassert their supremacy in the sport. Led by skipper Ajay Thakur, who scored nine points, India were in top from the first minute to the last. While the Indian raiders were good as always, Surjeet Singh scored six tackle points and marshalled the defence superbly as well.
Iran were let down by their defence as they struggled to contain Indian raiders. There were fleeting chances for Iran to make a comeback but India proved too good for them on the night. Monu Goyat chipped in with crucial raid points and Mohit Chhillar was a rock at the back for India. For Iran, Mohammed Maghsodlou had a quiet night, as did Mohammed Nabibbaksh.
Ajay Thakur and Monu Goyat scored two raid points to open India’s account. Mohammed Nabibbaksh put Iran on the scoreboard in the fourth minute with a successful raid. After five minutes India led 6-2 and reduced Iran to just two men on the mat. India inflicted the first all out of the match in the seventh minute to lead 10-3.
The famed Iranian defence was having an off night in the first 10 minutes as it failed to get a tackle point. India led 15-5 after 11 minutes. Iran forced a super tackle in the 13th minute as they trailed 7-15, and then came back into the game late in the first half as they reduced the gap to six points after 16 minutes. Mohammed Maghsoudlou scored a raid in the 18th minute, but India were still ahead with a comfortable 18-11 lead at half time.
India started the second half with a bang as they inflicted an all out in the 24th minute to lead 24-12. Iran struggled to match India’s intensity as they scored just one point in the first seven minutes of the second half. Iran averted an all out and forced a super tackle in the 29th minute, before scoring another tackle point in the 31st minute to reduce their deficit to 17-29.
Mohit Chhillar forced a super tackle in the 32d minute to give India 31-17 lead. Surjeet Singh got a high five as India led 35-19. Ajay Thakur scored his ninth point of the night as India led 37-21 in the 38th minute. India inflicted another all out to complete a dominant performance. Iran came up with a super raid in the dying seconds of the match but it was too little too late, as they crashed to a 26-44 defeat.