Asian Games 2018, Men's Kabaddi Semifinal, India vs Iran: 5 Talking Points

#5 Out-muscled, out-thought, outfought and outplayed

The Iranians, physically, looked to have the edge over the Indians as their defenders were able to absorb impact and still keep India's raiders down

This match was tied at 9-9 at half-time after Iran had clawed back from a potential All Out. While the action was slow-paced and sedate, one expected India to try and change things up in the second to counter Iran.

Rahul Chaudhari, who looked the best of the raiders in their previous game, looked a possible change that India could make. Yet after netting the first three points of the half, India racked up just five more, two of which came in the final two minutes when the game was truly beyond them.

The way they allowed the game to drift even as Iran kept getting stronger and stronger was almost inexplicable. Rahul was introduced too late for him to have any sort of sustained impact. The Iranians, physically, looked to have the edge over the Indians as their defenders were able to absorb impact and still keep India's raiders down.

Iran's tactics were better than India's; the Indians looked like they didn't have a plan at times. By the end, they were swamped and thoroughly outplayed by Iran in all departments, including the raiding department.

This one will sting for Indian kabaddi not because they lost, but rather the manner in which they lost. It was in the end, a tame surrender, as Iran outscored them 18-8 in the second half to bring their campaign to a screeching halt.