This is the first time that Green-shirts will return empty-handed from Asian Games
It was a disappointing day for Pakistan’s kabaddi at the Asian Games in Japan on Thursday.
The Green-shirts were eliminated when Iran defeated them 51-30 in their Group B match at the continental event in Aichi-Nagoya.
This was the second defeat tasted by Pakistan following an upset loss at the hands of Thailand on Wednesday.
Since making their debut in 1990 Beijing Asian Games Pakistan never returned empty-handed. Pakistan had won two silver and seven bronze medals in their previous nine editions of the Asian Games.
“Yes it’s unfortunate,” Pakistan Kabaddi Federation’s (PKF) secretary Mohammad Sarwar told The Express Tribune following Pakistan’s loss.
Pakistan led 14-20 at halftime but struggled to contain Iran after the break.
Iran scored 31 points in the second half compared with Pakistan’s 16, turning a six-point halftime deficit into a 21-point winning margin..
Iran’s second-half surge proved decisive as Pakistan were unable to maintain the momentum they had built before the interval.
Iran and Thailand have qualified for the semi-finals from this group.
Now in the semi-finals on Friday Iran will meet Chinese Taipei while India will lock horns with Thailand.