Asian Kabaddi Championships 2017: India vs Pakistan final - Telecast, live streaming, date, start time and where to watch online

By Sarthak Sharma

Modified Nov 26, 2017 15:14 IST

The stage is set for an epic encounter in what is widely considered one of the fiercest sporting rivalries. India are set to take on arch-rivals Pakistan in yet another major tournament final. However this time around, the final isn't in the flamboyant sport of cricket or even in the historically important sport of hockey. The two rivals go head-to-head in the final of the Asian Kabaddi Championships 2017 to determine who will be crowned the continental champion.

The Indian team are heavy favourites heading into the final, having already secured the Kabaddi World Cup in 2016 and with their star players all ready to raid to victory. The cash-rich Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has further bolstered chances of a swift Indian win following special recognition of the sport in the country.

The Indian squad looks deadly on paper, with the likes of Sandeep Narwal, Ajay Thakur, Maninder Singh, Pardeep Narwal and Surender Nada all chomping at the bit to get their hands on the enemy. The team will also be motivated by the fact that they beat the Pakistan kabaddi team 44-18 earlier in the same competition on Saturday and secured the top spot in their group.

The Pakistan team may have found it hard going against India but they gave a good account of themselves in the semi-final of the tournament, beating Iran in a fiercely contested battle that ended 28-24 on Sunday. They enter the final confident, but aware of the might that the Indians possess.

India's route to the final has been fairly straightforward in comparison as they topped the group with wins against Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan and Pakistan, before they avenged their 2016 World Cup defeat to South Korea by thrashing them 45-29 in a battle that never appeared to trouble the Indians.

The team will be looking towards captain Ajay Thakur to replicate the success of the World Cup by inflicting another crushing defeat on the Pakistan team in the final. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the game!