Asian Kabaddi Championship highlights, Day 2: India beats Japan 62-18 to register third win; Iran wins vs Hong Kong, Korea

​Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023, Day 3 Live Updates: India takes on Iran at 10.30AM IST; Chinese Taipei vs Japan now​

Is this the final before the final? We’ve seen India and Iran enjoy unbeaten runs so far in Busan, one more rampant than the other. On paper, this might seem like an easy win for India, but Iran has always been a sore spot for the boys in blue. Will Shadloui have another 19-point type game or will Pawan Sehrawat and Co. make short work of a not-full-stength Iran? This will be one to watch tomorrow. Join us at 10.30AM. Our coverage of the Asian Kabaddi Championship will begin at 6:30AM.

• Chinese Taipei vs Japan 6:30 AM
• Korea vs Hong Kong 7:30AM
• India vs Iran 10:30AM
• Chinese Taipei vs Korea 11:30AM

• Match 1: Iran beat Hong Kong 60-31
• Match 2: Japan beat Korea 45-18
• Match 3: Chinese Taipei beat Hong Kong 117-12
• Match 4: India beat Japan 62-18
• Match 5: Iran beat Korea 72-17

Another match, another clinical victory for Iran as it thrashes Korea 72-17 to register its third consecutive win of the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship and is neck-to-neck with India at the moment as far as points are concerned.

No luck for Korea in the second half as Iran piles up points here. Korea could only manage two points in the last 11 minutes while Iran gained 22 in the same time. Just formalities left in the match now with nine minutes in the clock left.

A comprehensive first half from Iran to lead by 25 points. Korea, however, did a better job in defence in the dying minutes of the first half to get some points back, but not enough to get even remotely closer to that of Iran.

A strong start for Iran as well as it enjoys a 22-point lead with over 12 minutes to go in the first half.

Hang in tight, we bring you more updates on the Asian Kabaddi Championship as Iran goes head-to-head with Korea in the last fixture of the day.

Sachin goes for the last raid of the game and comes back safely to end the game in India’s favour with a massive 44-point win over Japan. The men in blue looked never in danger as it cruised over Japan with a comprehensive win. Three out of three for India and it marches ahead closer to the finals.

A bonus for number seven of Japan. Followed by touchpoints of Vishal, Surjeet and a bonus point that gives three points for Japan in its last raid to get three consolatory points.

Sachin goes in the raid in front of a two-man defence and sweeps it easily as one of the defenders went out of bounds. Sixth all-out on Japan.

Sachin goes in another do-or-die raid and the specialist did not fail to impress this time as he gets an easy touch point of the left corner.

Less than four minutes in the clock and India maintains its 40-plus points lead over its Asain counterpart.

Sachin Tanwar has been tackled while trying to venture into dangerous territory.

Aslam goes for a raid and Japan surrenders to get its fifth all-out.

Vishal gets a back hold of jersey number 10 and he showed immense strength to almost single-handedly thump him down for a point.

Sachin goes in deep to reduce Japan to two-man with a quick-flying hand touch.

Pawan thumped jersey number seven down to deny him a point in a do-or-die raid after Sachin brought back two points in the previous raid.

Jersey no 10 comes in for a do-or-die raid and goes back with a super-raid! Nitin, Aslam and Vishal have to go out as both left and right cover commit early to concede three points in raid.

A consolatory bonus for Japan and three points for India with fourth all-out inflicted with more than 15 minutes on the clock.

Sachin goes in the raid, a premature attempt from Japan to tackle him, but he uses the right lobby to roll over and gets two touchpoints.

A do-or-die raid for Japan, with Aslam doing his defensive duties in the left-in with an ankle hold to give one more point to India.

India starts slow in the second half, with a couple of empty raids from Sachin and Aslam.

Left corner, Nitin Rawal pounced on Japan’s no. seven to get a hold of his ankle to tackle him in his do-or-die raid as we reach halftime with the scoreline of IND 32-6 JPN.

Pawan goes in the do-or-die raid and fails this time to get out of the double thigh hold of Japan’s defender. A timely tackle resulted in the sixth point for Japan in the game.

An easy affair for India till now to get points in raids without breaking a sweat. Jersey number seven for Japan comes in for a do-or-die raid and escapes with a lucky touchpoint.

Pawan downs one man in raid followed by an easy tackle to inflict a third all-out on Japan.

Aslam dashed his way out to thump jersey number six down for another point in the raid. India enjoys a 19-point raid.

Aslam tries a cheeky move with his left leg but fails to keep his balance and as a result gets tackled by Japan’s defence this time.

Arjun Deshwal gets tackled by a well-executed tackle as Japan gets the first point in defence.

The last man in for Japan goes into the raid and gets tackled after taking the first point as a bonus in the game. Second all-out for India.

Pawan and then Aslam Inamdar takes two consecutive touchpoints as Japan is on the brink of a second all-out.

Four back-to-back points for India as Japan struggles to open its account in this game.

Arjun Deshwal goes in raid in front of a two-man defence and inflicts first all-out of Japan to extend India’s lead to nine points.

Pawan brings the third point in the raid before the Japanese raider goes out in his raid.

Jersey number 11 comes in for a do-or-die raid but fails to take point and gets tackled by a solid Indian defence.

Another touchpoint for Pawan before Akash puts an empty raid.

Pawan Sehrawat starts the proceedings for India in the raid and he starts with a touch-point to open India’s raid account.

Time for the National anthems of both countries as Japan national anthem “Kimigayo” was played followed by India’s ‘Jana Gana Mana’.

India is the most successful team in this event, winning seven out of eight titles till now. Iran is the only other team to win this title in 2003.

• Match 1: Iran beat Hong Kong 60-31
• Match 2: Japan beat Korea 45-18
• Match 3: Chinese Taipei beat Hong Kong 117-12
• Match 4: Japan vs India, 11:30 AM IST
• Match 5: Korea vs Iran, 12:30 PM IST

Be ready for the next game as India will take on Japan, stay tuned.

Finally, with the full-time whistle, the agony ends for Hong Kong for now, which lost by a margin of 105 points as the final scoreline stands at 117-12 in favour of Chinese Taipei.

There we go, jersey number eight gets an easy touch-point with a leg kick on a Hong Kong player to get to the magical number of 100 points.

The humiliation continues for Hong Kong as they concede a lead of 90 points, absolute chaos on their side at the moment.

This is humiliating for Hong Kong as Taipei inflicts another all-out to extend the already massive lead to make the scoreline look more ridiculous with 76-5.

The first half was full of misery for the team in red, Hong Kong, which failed to match the level of professionalism Chinese Taipei showed in the first 20 minutes and as a result, the latter leads by whopping 52 points after the end of the first half.

Another all-out was inflicted on Hong Kong as Taipei leads 54-4 near halftime.

The team in blue, Taipei is showing no mercy on Hong Kong as it leads with a hefty 40 points with still over five minutes on the clock.

Early lead for Chinese Taipei as it crushes Hong Kong 22-1 with 11 minutes to go in the first half.

We have a break now for a bit. Grab your refreshments and join us by 10.30 for Chinese Taipei vs Hong Kong

Despite Korea putting up a fight, Japan comfortably stayed ahead throughout the course of the game to complete a simple win. Japan takes on India next.

India has been the most successful men’s team in the Asian Kabaddi Championship, winning seven titles in eight editions. Iran is the only other country that won the tournament in 2003 held in Kangar, Malaysia.

A full list of the winners in the history of this tournament

Pawan’s injury comeback has looked promising. How much will he score today? He injured his right knee in the first few minutes of his very first game in the recently concluded edition of the Pro Kabaddi League. Surgery, lots of rehab and recovery had got him here. Read his story.

Indian fans will want to keep an eye on this fixture to size up the team that will face their favourites later in the day. Japan had a great day 1, beating Hong Kong 85-11.

This was by no means a 60-31 game. Iran allowed Hong Kong several opportunities to claw points back with either shoddy advanced tackles or spaces on the mat that allowed the smaller-built Hong Kong players to slip away. There’s a lot Gholamreza will want to work on when these teams dissect this game in training.

The effortless ankleholds are here from the lanky Iranian. Gholamreza is also using him in raiding, something Patna Pirates held him back from doing in the ProKabaddi League.

One name missing from the scene for Iran has been veteran captain Fazel Atrachali. This could be a case of the experienced player simply being rested, but he had joined the Iran camp late and himself believed that Iran might go the younger way for its future plans, especially in the run-up to the Asian Games. Is Fazel in Gholamreza’s plans? Check out this piece where he talks about how his international ambitions were quashed by the pandemic and perhaps a lack of initiative in the kabaddi world.

A touch offered too close to the midline to the raider and a solid double thigh hold from the Hong Kong left corner help Hong Kong steal a few points their way. Iran is scoring some regulation points here. Barely any need for any effort here in Busan this morning.

The raider slides from under the right chain to make it to the mid line. Good game awareness from Hong Kong, a little complacent from Iran.

A raid point from an advanced tackle, two circular defenses and a touch point from a backward kick. Iran reduced to three men on the mat. Finally a challenge! And one they see out with too much ease.

The level of skill and physicality is so different for these two teams. Hong Kong is far too meek in front of the towering Iranians who are making their way around the mat like it’s a practice routine.

Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh has been the toast of the Pro Kabaddi League for the last two seasons, proving to be a potent left corner and a handy raider if the situation demands it. No one will forget his lone-wolf 19-point effort in PKL against Dabang Delhi where he singlehandedly fought for his team in the game. You can revisit that match here:

VIjay fans! You will enjoy following the Asian Kabaddi Championships. The songs of his 2004 hit film Ghilli, a movie on a kabaddi player, have been the playlist for this tournament. The real question, one wonders, would be to find out how many of the folks here understand what they’re hearing.

Despite being made to work in the first half, Iran eventually made short work of Chinese Taipei with a 52-28 win. Meanwhile, Hong Kong was thrashed 85-11 in its first game of the tournament by Japan. This one is the largest one in this edition. Can day 2 see anyone outdo this mark?

India

Iran

South Korea

Chinese Taipei

Japan

Hong Kong

Two nations are missing: Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Sources suggest that they’ve missed out on this tournament due to visa issues.

India registered a comprehensive 76-13 victory over host South Korea in the opening match of the men’s Asian Kabaddi Championship on Tuesday.

India, the most successful side in the continental championship with seven titles, started its campaign in dominating fashion. It outsmarted South Korea, collecting nine consecutive points in the first half before the latter could earn its first point in the match.

Overall, Korea could accumulate only four points against India’s 40 by the end of the first half, with substitute Aslam Inamdar, who made his India debut, kept the Korean defence in check.

ndia eventually took a massive 63-point lead, with Korea managing a meagre nine points in the second half.

Later, India thrashed Chinese Taipei 53-20. While Chinese Taipei offered more resistance than Korea from earlier in the day, it was a pretty straightforward win for the Indians who might face a sterner test when they come up against Japan and Iran.

Hong Kong vs Iran - 6:30 AM

Korea vs Japan - 7:30 AM

Chinese Taipei vs Hong Kong - 10:30 AM

India vs Japan - 11:30 AM

Korea vs Iran - 12:30 PM

Defending champion India - the most successful side at the Asian Kabaddi Championship - will begin its campaign on June 27 when it takes on host South Korea in Busnan, the host city of the championship. In the day’s second game, India will be up against Chinese Taipei at 12:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).

India won the continental championship seven times in eight editions. Iran won it in the 2003 edition held in Kangar, Malaysia.

The four-day event marks the return of the Asian championship after a gap of six years. The previous iteration was held in Gorgan, Iran, in 2017 when India came out as eventual champions beating Pakistan 32-26 in the final.

The tournament will be played in a single-legged round-robin format with the top two teams meeting in the final on June 30.

Live streaming of the Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 will be available on the tournament’s official Youtube channel in India. There will be no live telecast of the event on any TV channel in India.