Indian men's kabaddi team grouped with rivals Pakistan in coming Asian Games

MUMBAI:Indian men's kabaddi team, which would be bidding for its seventh straight gold in next month's Asian Games, has been pooled along side arch-rivals Pakistan in Group A of the competition.

The other two teams in Group A of the men's competition are Bangladesh and Thailand, as per the draw of the event commencing on September 28 at the Songda Global University Gymnasium in Incheon, South Korea.

The women's outfit, which is also the title holder having clinched the crown on the event's debut four years ago at Guangzhou, China, is in Group A with Bangladesh and hosts South Korea which is also fielding the men's team.

The men's team, that has lifted the title at every edition of the pan-Asian sports spectacle since kabaddi was introduced in Beijing in 1990, opens its campaign against another South Asian rival Bangladesh on September 28.

India are to take on Pakistan, which won the bronze four years ago, on September 30 after meeting Thailand a day earlier.

The other teams in the men's contest are: 2010 silver medallists Iran, Japan and Malaysia, which are in Group B along with Korea.

In women's competition, India's league games are scheduled on September 28 (versus Bangladesh) and hosts South Korea (September 30).

Teams in Group B are 2010 silver medallists Thailand, Iran, Japan and Chinese Taipei.

The semi-finals of both men's and women's competitions are scheduled for October 2 followed by the finals on the next day.

The 17th Asian Games are to open on September 19 and conclude on October 4.