Kabaddi World Cup: South Korea routs Argentina

Argentina, playing for the first time, displayed tremendous enthusiasm, energy and joy against a top-notch South Korean side. But it could not compensate a 32-point deficit in the first half. South Korea, with a 68-42 win topped Group A in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.

South Korean team tries to catch an Argentine during a Group A Kabaddi World Cup match in Ahmedabad.

Argentina caught the attention, wearing its customary light blue and white, displayed tremendous enthusiasm, energy and joy in its debut against a top-notch South Korean side. But it could not compensate a 32-point deficit in the first half. Despite scoring 32 points in the second half, it went down 42-68, as South Korea topped Group A in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.

Quite thrilled with the ovation it received from the stands, Argentina, coached by Ricardo Acuna, showed a lot of ingenuity to win some points.

In the second half, South Korea played easy, bringing in a few second-string players from the bench. The South American team capitalised, outscoring its rival -- 31 points against South Korea’s 25. But the first half deficit couldn't be made up.

Argentina was blown away in the first three minutes with seven of its players rendered out of action. First Argentina’s captain Sebastian Desocio and Matias Martinez tried an ankle-hold defensive tackle on Korea’s star raider Jang Kun Lee, failed and left the scene of action.

Soon Franco Castro was captured and under three minutes Argentina conceded the first of the five "all out points" to South Korea, which earned 23 raid points, six tackle points, eight all out points and six extra points in the first half.

It was a mismatch in the first twenty minutes and South Korea’s coach Cho Jaeho fielded his second batch of seven players. It looked somewhat an even contest with the likes of Franco Castro, Nahuel Villamayor, Eugenio Petermann scoring smartly. Argentina even managed two consolatory "all out" points. But South Korea, again, showed that with the likes of Jang Kun Lee Lee, Dong Ju Jong and Dong Geon Lee it cannot be trifled with.

In the second match Japan beat USA 45-19. Captain Masayuki Shimokawa and Kazuhiro Takano and Takamitsu Kono impressed in raiding and tackling, while USA, which began training for the competition only on September 19, managed to win just one tackle point.

Iran crushed Thailand 64-23 to record the biggest win of the tournament.

Results: South Korea 68 bt Argentina 42; Japan 45 bt USA 19; Iran 64 bt Thailand 23.