Muktsar: Hosts India stormed into the semi-finals of the ongoing kabaddi World Cup with an easy 51-24 victory over Canada at Doda on Thursday.
By virtue of this win, India became the first team to reach the last-four of the second edition of the 14-nation World Cup. They are also the only side in the tournament to have registered victories in all five matches played so far.
England and Germany also trounced Australia and Afghanistan respectively in their league matches.
The Pool A match played between India and Canada was the centre of attraction for the spectators since the two teams are the heavyweights of the game.
Though the Canadian players tried their level best, but the Indians remained dominant throughout the match as the home team went into the breather with a 26-13 lead.
Indian raiders Sandeep Dirba and Gagandeep Singh Gaggi scored nine points each, while vice-captain Hardavinderjit Singh Dulla scored five points.
Indian stopper Narinder Ram scored six points, as did Canadian raider Kulwinder Singh Kinda.
Earlier, England overpowered Australia 45-32 in a league match.
England captain and raider Manga Mithapuria played well as usual and secured eight points for his team, while Kulwinder Kinda also scored as many points.
The match between Germany and Afghanistan, however, was a one-sided affair as the Afghans could not grip German raider Ranjit Singh Bath even a single time as he went on to score 21 points.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal paid a special visit to Doda and watched all the three matches.
India had won the inaugural kabaddi World Cup last year, defeating traditional rivals Pakistan.
The finals of the 20-day tournament will be played at Ludhiana on November 20.
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