Day Six Recap – 22nd March
The penultimate day was a critical day as the Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup was welcomed back to WV Aldersley in Wolverhampton for the men’s semi finals as well as a match between the women’s teams of Hong Kong China and Wales to determine who would seize the bronze placing in the championship.
First up, Hong Kong China’s women came in stronger than ever, executing excellent tactics and a well prepared game plan. They dominated from the start while Wales, though determined, struggled to put points on the board. By the end of the first quarter Hong Kong China had built a commanding lead of 14 to two. In the second quarter, Wales struggled to close the gap. Meanwhile Hong Kong China’s dominance continued to grow as they extended their lead to 34 to five. The final two quarters didn’t bring any relief for Wales as they continued to struggle to score. Their confidence faded as the game progressed, while Hong Kong China maintained control and cruised to a comfortable victory.
The second match of the day was the much anticipated England v Scotland men’s semi final. England delivered a commanding performance against their arch rivals Scotland, securing a dominant victory in a match that was expected to be a much closer contest. The game started with both teams matching each other point for point in the opening five minutes, setting the stage for an intense battle. However, England soon asserted their dominance inflicting two consecutive All Outs on Scotland in the final five minutes of the first quarter. This early statement gave England a strong lead of 25 to nine, forcing Scotland to change the game from the outset. England continued to build on the momentum in the second quarter, excelling in both raiding and defending. While Scotland managed to put points on the board, their defence struggled to contain England’s raiders, allowing them to easily pick up bonus points. By half time England had stretched their lead to 37 to 18, already putting the game beyond Scotland’s reach.
In the third quarter the English defence further tightened its grip, denying Scotland’s raiders any space to operate, while their own raiders continued to score freely. With the home crowd roaring behind them, England extended their lead to an overwhelming 56 to 25 by the end of the third quarter. Despite Scotland efforts they were unable to find any rhythm throughout the game. Their defensive lapses allowed England consistently to score points without much resistance and their raiders failed to breakthrough England’s well organised defensive unit. England maintained their intensity until the final whistle, securing the resounding victory. What was expected to be a close contest but turned out to be one-sided affair final score 84 to 36.
In the last semifinal of the Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup, India came out stronger playing an intense and aggressive game from start. They stayed solid and used their years of experience to their advantage. Wales had a shaky start and seemed unsure at first but they gradually found their footing with well executed counter attacks. They brought their strength and strategies into play but the gap was already too wide. India maintained a comfortable lead in the first two quarters and despite Wales best efforts they struggled to match the dominance of the Indian giants. In the third and fourth quarters Wales fought hard and picked up as many as points possible, but India’s firm grip on the game ensured a smooth and dominant win.
