AHMEDABAD: When the schedule for the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup came out, it was taken for granted that the final would be contested between traditional powerhouses India and Iran. The pulling out/barring of Pakistan further embellished this thought. The likes of South Korea, Thailand and Japan were at best expected to fight for third place. But the tournament opener saw the Koreans pull off a stunning upset, coming from behind to beat the hosts.
And captain Dong Ju Hong says his team were always confident. “People may have thought we would not be able to beat India, but we knew if we played to our strengths, we would be able to pull off a win. In fact, we came into the World Cup looking to win the whole thing. Maybe the Indians were a bit complacent, but never did we feel that we wouldn’t be able to beat them,” Dong told Express. Such has been the Koreans’ domination that they were the only unbeaten team after the group phase. They have been one of the most improved nations in the sport recently, and even won bronze in front of their home fans at the 2014 Asian games in Incheon.
Dong attributes this rise to the fact that kabaddi has been introduced in schools and at the grassroots level, which has helped spot and nurture talent early. “Kabaddi is relatively new in Korea, but we have made efforts to ensure that people learn the sport. Every school has a physical education hour, and kabaddi is taught as part of the curriculum. This has helped develop interest among children, and once we spot someone with potential, they are taken under the wings by respective authorities.”
An official at the South Korean Kabaddi Federation, Dong revealed that star raider Jang Kun Lee’s experience in the Pro Kabaddi League also helped. “Having played with and against so many Indian stars, Jang knows quite a lot about their strengths and weaknesses. And during strategy sessions, his inputs are always take into account. He is our best player after all.”
South Korea’s commitment towards improvement has seen them grow and it won’t be a surprise if they go all the way here!
Results: Bangladesh 67-26 Argentina; Thailand 37-33 Japan.
Semifinalists: Iran, Korea, India, Thailand.raviiyer@newindianexpress.com