LAHORE, Nov 5: Pakistan won the second Asia Cup kabaddi title 40-31 in an unfinished thrilling final as the Indian team forfeited the tie on a technical objection raised by the hosts here on Monday under lights before a full house of nearly thirty thousand spectators.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Mohammad Iqbal and Indian Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukbir Singh Badal were present on the occasion.

Pakistan were leading 36-31 midway through the second half when Indian ace attacker Suhkvinder Singh raided the Pakistani area for the second successive time, a big technical mistake as a player cannot go for attack for two times in a row.

At this point, the match officials intervened and tried to control the situation by listening to the points of view of both the sides and finally decided in favour of the home team on which the Indians refused to continue the game, forfeiting the match when Pakistan’s ace raider, Babar Gujjar entered the Indian area for attack but no one from the opposition made any move and Gujjar returned in jubilation taking Pakistani score to 40-31.

The home side folded the first half 22-16 as Pakistan players demonstrated greater anticipation and agility to defy a strong Indian challenge amid applause from the capacity crowd.

Pakistan’s superiority was evident from their lead which was 10-7, 12-7 and the home team expanded the lead with collective efforts and superior display of skills on part of energetic Pakistan players.

From the home team, skipper Musharraf led from the front and received equal support from Sajjad Gujjar, Siddique Butt, Sajjad, Saifullah, Shafiq and Obaidullah who exhibited prowess in attacks.

The second half was the climax of the game as the Indian side made desperate efforts to equalise the score and in the process got closer to the home side.

Pakistan team maintained lead at 24-21, 26-23, 28-24, 30-25, 32-26, 33-27, 35-27, 35-29 and 35-30.

Indian team’s outstanding players were Garveet Singh, Balveer Singh, Naqveer Singh, Gourmeet Singh, Garu Lal Singh, Shalveer Singh, Monogeet Singh, Salvinger Singh, Biljeet Singh and Makasih Kumar.

Earlier, in third-place classification match, Iran thrashed lowly-rated Nepal 72-27.—APP