AHMEDABAD: A major concern during the course of the ongoing 2016 Kabaddi World Cup here was if lop-sided matches were good for the event, given it was making a comeback, and having such quash matches was not good for sustainability. And the general consensus is that World Cup gives other countries a chance to experience the game at the highest level, which can only be good for the sport and the event.
And on Sunday, two upcoming countries, Thailand and Kenya, vindicated that stance, winning their respective matches to give Pool B an interesting look. While the former thumped basement dwellers USA 69-22, the Africans stunned a more fancied Japan 27-48 to keep alive their hopes of a last-4 berth. Any of the three could clinch the final semifinal spot, and with one round of games left, it could all come down to scoring difference to decide who advances.
And for the ever-improving Thailand, a medal would be the best way to help the sport grow, feels coach Somprach Phunchoo.
“A medal here could change the face of kabaddi forever in Thailand. We selected the best available players for the World Cup, and they have done well to reach this far,” said Phunchoo.
The secretary of the Kabaddi Association of Thailand revealed players were chosen after a rigorous process. “The national camp took place at our training centre in Krabi. We invited noted Indian coach Dr Ramesh Bhendigiri for a training stint there, and he also brought us to India to improve our mat play. Only after that did we select the squad for the World Cup. Our team is full of high-school and university students, and only one, captain Khomsan Thongkam, is employed,” noted the coach.
Speaking of Khomsan, the 24-year-old army man needed permission to play at the 16-day event. “I learned about kabaddi through TV, and have been in the army for two years. I had to take permission from superiors to attend the training camp and travel to India. But the experience has been worth it, and we are hoping to go as far as possible,” Khomsan told Express.
Phunchoo added that in order to spread the game in Thailand, they were planning to introduce kabaddi at army bases. “We get so many sports persons from the army, and the same can be done for kabaddi as well. If all goes well, we will be able to incorporate kabaddi competitions in the army,” signed off the coach.
raviiyer@newindianexpress.com