Taipei, Oct. 7 (CNA) The Taiwan women’s team in kabaddi, a contact team sport originating in India, won a silver medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Saturday after falling a solitary point behind their opponents.
The Taiwanese women took second place after enduring a one point defeat to team India 25-26.
Prior to Iran’s 2018 gold medal outing in both the men and women’s kabaddi at the Asian Games, India had dominated the event since its introduction to the games in 1990.
Taiwan fell behind India early on, trailing 9-14 at half time.
However, in the second half, Taiwan’s team stepped up the pressure in an attempt to win gold, dishing out a super tackle and raking in four points in the last four minutes of the match.
Despite a brave attempt, the team were unable to get in front of the Indian team and had to settle for a silver medal.
Taiwan’s women’s team coach Tsai Wei-yang (蔡威暘) said he was proud of what his athletes accomplished.
“I would like to tell them that they are the best,” Tsai said. “Each and everyone of them has the heart of a lion, they never gave up even after falling seven points behind early in the second half.”
Taiwan’s 22-year-old team captain Chuang Ya-han (莊雅涵) said the team could do with more self-confidence and defend better.
“Losing to India by a single point was regrettable,” Chuang said. “But I believe that we gave them a run for their money and forced them to see us as a formidable team that posed a threat to the long-time champions India. The difference of one point will also motivate us to continue to work hard.”
Chuang went on to urge younger athletes to join the sport as the Taiwanese team faces a shortage of high school-level players.
“Currently, there are no high school-level athletes in Taiwan,” Chuang continued. “Perhaps it is due to academic obligations that people just stopped practicing. But there’s also a lack of high schools with proper (kabaddi) teams in Taiwan.”
Feng Hsiu-chen (馮綉真), one of the team’s most seasoned athletes who has been a member of the Taiwanese delegation since the nation’s initial foray into kabaddi in 2014, said she feels more and more pressure in the sport as she is about to be one of the most senior members at the age of 24.
“Come and experience it (kabaddi),” Feng encouraged potential recruits. “You’ll get a great sense of achievement the moment you score.”
The second place win was Taiwan’s best performance at the Asian Games, with the women’s team making its unranked debut in the event in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea, followed by a bronze medal win in 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In addition, Taiwan fielded its first ever men’s kabaddi team at the Asian Games this year, which won a bronze medal on its debut in the event on Friday.
