December 06, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1427

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DOHA, Dec 5: Pakistan insist their shattering 31-20 defeat to India in a stormy kabaddi group game clash will have no bearing when the two bitter rivals meet again for Asian Games gold on Wednesday.

India have won the title on all four occasions the sport has featured in the Games and have a 100-percent record here after three league games.

But Pakistan coach Zubair Ahmed took positives from the loss against the champions on Monday.

“We were already in the final so we tried to save our players for that match,” said Ahmed. “We didn't care if we won or lost this game since we were already in the final.”Monday's group game was played out in front of a packed house at the Aspire Dome and the same intense atmosphere is guaranteed again for the final.

“We have good supporters, we want them to come to the final,” added Ahmed. “When our fans come we will not let them down. God willing, we will win the gold.”

India's star raider Naveen Kumar was also trying to score psychological blows on the eve of the final. “We didn't use any special tactics in the first game but we will in the final,” said Kumar. “We are happy that we beat them and we had a wonderful crowd supporting us. I haven't seen such a big crowd for a kabaddi international match. It was wonderful.”

Pakistan will be wary of repeating the errors which dogged them in the first game. In the second half, they allowed India to tag 16 players compared to five for their own efforts. It was desperately disappointing for Pakistan who had led 11-9 at the interval.

Kabaddi, which is known as “the game of the masses” due to huge popularity in parts of Asia, is played with two teams of 12 players.

The purpose is to reach the highest score by touching or capturing the opposing team's players, while continuously chanting “kabaddi-kabaddi”. —AFP