Indian kabaddi team
on course for gold

Defending champions India chalked up their fourth successive victory, routing Sri Lanka 50-21, and took a firm step towards retaining the gold medal in the kabaddi competition at the 14th Asian Games, on Sunday.

As they had done in their previous matches, the Indians, after setting up a big lead, allowed their opponents to score few points in the second half.

It was a rainy day and on a slushy court at the Tongmyong University of Information and Technology, the winners of the title since 1990 handed a lesson to the Sri Lankans.

The crowd was thin, but a few students who were there enjoyed the game as Indians went through the motions to demolish the Sri Lankans.

They led 27-16 but they let their opponents 15 more points in the second session to "keep the intrest alive".

It was again Jagdeesha, Suresh Rammehar and Shamsher Singh who spearheaded the victory.

India meet Pakistan in their last round-robin match on Monday.

"We played better today," India coach E Rao said, but addeed that he will not take the match against Pakistan lightly. "They are tough rivals; we can not underestimate them. I have told my players not to be complacent."

He, however, added: "We will do our best to retain the title for the fourth successive time... We need gold and hope kabaddi will once again contribute in that."

In other matches of the day, Sri Lanka beat Malaysia 18-16, Pakistan outplayed Malaysia 29-7, Japan surprised Bangaldesh 22-15.