Thailand trounce Kenya 53-21 in Kabaddi World Cup

Thailand produced a dazzling performance as they notched a comfortable 53-21 win over Kenya in the ongoing Kabaddi World Cup at the iconic stadium 'The Arena by TransStadia' last evening here.

Captain Khomsan Thongkham led from the front and scored 14 points to lead his team to their second win of the tournament.

Thailand got their strategy spot on as they targeted Kenyan dangerman David Mosambayi who was sent packing to the bench for more than 24 minutes.

It was a disappointing performance by Kenya who had shown so much spirit and heart in their previous match against Iran. David Mosambayi had a disappointing night and scored just two bonus points.

Thailand were up 3-0 within two minutes as they earned a bonus and raid point. Kenya opened their account in the third minute with a tackle point. With Kenyan raiders failing to get their foot in the game, Thailand defence capitalized and led 6-1 after five minutes. Thailand inflicted the first all out of the match in eighth minute to lead 11-1.

Kenya badly needed a spark to make a comeback in the game and turned to their skipper David Mosambayi. However, he failed to make a single successful raid in the first 10 minutes as Thailand led 13-1. Khomsan Thongkham and Khunakon Chanjaroen scored four points each for Thailand as they led 16-2 after 12 minutes.

Thailand asserted their supremacy with each passing minute and inflicted the second all out of the match in the 13th minute to lead 21-2. A super raid by John Muremwa got Kenya some respectability as they trailed 5-23 after 16 minutes. Thonghkam put a commanding performance in the first half and achieved a super 10 as Thailand led 30-8 at the end of the first half.

Kenya began the second half in the same dominant manner and inflicted the third all out in the 22nd minute to lead 34-9.

A super tackle was forced by Kenya in the 27th minute as they trailed 14-40. Thailand were in no mood to show any mercy to their opponents and inflicted another all out in 31st minute to lead 46-15.

Thailand were impressive from the word go and outclassed Kenya in all departments to wrap a comfortable 53-21 victory.

Thailand are now third in Group B with 10 points from three games whereas Kenya are fourth with six points from the same number of matches as Thailand.