India beat Iran 38-29 to win 2016 Kabaddi World Cup

India beat Iran 38-29 in the title clash to lift the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 22 2016.

About Kabaddi World Cup :

The 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, the third standard-style Kabaddi World Cup, was an international kabaddi tournament governed by the International Kabaddi Federation, contested from 7 to 22 October 2016 in Ahmedabad, India. Twelve countries had competed in the tournament. India defeated Iran by a margin of 38–29 in the final to win their third Kabaddi World Cup.

• The tournament is being hosted at The Arena (currently known as The Arena by Trans Stadia), a newly-constructed convertible stadium in Ahmedabad.
• In its standard configuration, it operates as an outdoor football pitch capable of seating 20,000.
• The venue utilizes technology licensed from the British firm StadiArena, which allows a portion of the field to be partitioned into a 4,000-seat indoor arena, which is used for the tournament. The venue is a public-private partnership with India’s Department of Tourism.
• The second half changed the order of events in the final, attended by a capacity crowd, with India coming from six points down to create an eight points margin for themselves before running away with things.
• The final was like a boxing bout as both teams traded punches and gave it as good as they got. India struck the early blows as Sandeep Narwal and Thakur scored raid points to lead 2-0 in the third minute.
• Meraj Sheykh scored Iran’s first point as they levelled the game at 2-2 in the fourth minute. Iran’s defence were up for it as they contained Pardeep Narwal effectively and then sent Thakur to the bench to lead 5-4 in the eighth minute.
• The match lived up to its expectations as both teams fought hard and refused to give an inch.
• Skipper Anup Kumar scored his trademark bonus point to level the scores at 6-6 in the 10th minute. Meraj Sheykh scored with an excellent raid and reduced India to just three men as Iran led 9-7 in the 13th minute.
• India’s defence had a below par first 15 minutes as they scored just one tackle point. Iran reduced India to just two men but a brilliant super tackle by Mohit Chhillar the 16th minute to cut the lead to just one point again.
• Meraj Sheykh continued to be a thorn in the Indian defence but Nitin Tomar came up with a brilliant raid and scored two points in the 18th minute as India trailed 11-12.
• The 2016 World Cup provided with thrills, excitement and reached out to the hearts of millions across the world. India lived up to their favourites tag and delighted their fans all over the country. 

Kabaddi WC venue is India’s 1st convertible stadium

India won the Kabbadi World Cup against Iran in Ahmedabad’s Trans Stadia Arena, which is India’s first convertible stadium.

• Being Asia’s biggest seven-floor stadium, Arena’s 20, 000 seater transforms into a 4000 seater, pillar-less multipurpose indoor venue at the touch of a button. With stunning technological features, this metamorphosis occurs at the touch of a button, unsurprisingly.
• The stadium, which is a Rs 550 crore project, has a seating capacity of 21,000 and its indoor arena can be utilized for 12 indoor sports. Built on the defunct Abad Dairy property measuring about 9 acres, it uses globally patented technology and boasts of a natural turf similar to that of the ones approved by FIFA.