KARACHI: Pakistan’s women’s team advanced to the semi-finals of the Kabaddi World Cup after a nail-biting 39-37 victory over England in the Indian city of Ludhiana on Wednesday.

Trailing 15-20 at the end of the first-half, raider Sehrish played a key role in her team’s tense triumph, clinching the decisive point minutes before the final whistle as Pakistan reached the semis after a second successive victory at the event.

“England have improved a lot since the last World Cup and put us under great pressure in the first-half,” Pakistan skipper Madiha Latif said after the match. “Thankfully we didn’t lose heart and pressed for a vital win.”

Madiha’s team had started their campaign with a 45-20 thrashing of Mexico in Rupnagar on Tuesday.

Their men’s counterparts also began on a winning note on Tuesday, demolishing Denmark 69-24 and next play England on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2014