Iran produced a masterclass in Kabaddi as they thrashed minnows Thailand 64-23 in the eighth match of 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. The result was never in doubt, as Thailand had no answer to the superiority of their opponents. Iran, on the other hand, underlined their credentials in the tournament with a second consecutive impressive victory. Iran inflicted six all outs on Thailand and look like the team to beat in the World Cup as they sit atop Group B with 10 points.
Thailand were trailing 0-2 after two minutes but Santi Bunchoet came up with a brilliant raid to level the game at 2-2 after three minutes. Meraj Sheykh scored with a two-point raid in the fifth minute to give Iran 6-2 lead. Thaliand forced a super tackle through Jantajam Peercdach as they trailed 4-6. Iran inflicted the first all out of the match in the eighth minute to lead 12-4.
Thailand’s inexperience was evident as the match wore on and Iran inflicted another all out in the 17th minute to lead 30-6. Such was Iran’s dominance that Thailand scored a single point in the last nine minutes of the first half. Iran ended the first half with an insurmountable 27-point gap and led 34-7.
It was a one-sided affair in the second half as well as Iran continued to dominate and led 38-8 after 24 minutes. Iran inflicted the fourth all out of the match in 25th minute to lead 42-8. Thailand were unable to match the agility of Iran’s attack and defence as the mighty Iranians handed them a lesson in Kabaddi. Thailand suffered a fifth all out – the most in a match in 2016 Kabaddi World Cup as they trailed 10-52 after 32 minutes.
Meraj Sheykh was the most impressive raider for Iran and scored eight points whereas Soleiman Pahlevani also got eight points. The highest scorer for Iran, however, was Farhad Milaghardan who ended the match with 10 points as Iran won 64-23.