Pakistan to face Japan in Asian Kabaddi Championship opener
Defending champions Pakistan to face Japan on Friday 24th November in the opening match of Asian Kabaddi championship 2017 scheduled to be held in Iran.
Pakistan have already announced 22 members contingent for the event. 12 male and 10 female players will represent Pakistan in the event to be held in Iran. Pakistan will start its campaign against Japan on Friday 24th and match will be played at 9. 30 am (PST). Pakistan has a record of winning most number of Asian Style Kabaddi Championships and all 3 times, Pakistan defeated the archrival India in the final match.
In 2011, Pakistan defeated rivals India to win the Championship held in Iran.
In 2012, Pakistan defeated India again by 40-31 and won the title 2nd time held in Lahore, Pakistan.
In 2016, Pakistan once again won the championship by defeating India and completes the hat-trick by 50-31. The tournament was held in Wah, Pakistan.
The circle style Asia Kabaddi Cup, is a regional kabaddi competition administrated by the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation contested by national teams within the continent of Asia. The competition has been contested in 2011, 2012 Asia Kabaddi Cup and 2016 Asia Kabaddi Cup.
The competition will feature a total of 10 teams each participating in the men's and women's sections. The draw for the two categories also took place and in the men's section, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are in line to face off in what promises to be a mouth-watering prospect for fans.
Here's how the teams are divided in the men's and women's divisions at the Asian Championships:
Men's category
Group 1: India, Pakistan, Japan, Iraq and Afghanistan
Group 2: Iran, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkmenistan
Women's category
Group 1: India, Thailand, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Turkmenistan
Group 2: Iran, Sri Lanka, Japan, Iraq, Pakistan
Following are the teams:
| Men | Women |
| Pakistan | Pakistan |
| Iran | Iran |
| Japan | Japan |
India | India |
| Iraq | Iraq |
| Afghanistan | Chinese Taipei |
| South Korea | South Korea |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Thailand | Thailand |
| Turkmenistan | Turkmenistan |
Schedule of Pakistan’s matches (Men's)
| Date | Match | Time (PST) |
| November 24 | Pakistan vs Japan | 9. 30 AM |
| November 24 | Pakistan vs Afghanistan | 12:30 PM |
| November 24 | Pakistan vs Iraq | 4:30 PM |
| November 25 | Pakistan vs India | 6:30 PM |
Final mach will held on Sunday 26th November at 5:30 PM.
