India, Iran book semifinal berths

Press Trust of India  |  Dubai 

World champions and runners-up booked semifinal berths from their respective groups to continue their supremacy in the six-nation Masters at the Complex here today.

had thrashed their bitter foes 36-20 in the opening game of the six-nation meet on June 22.

Substitute put up a spectacular show in the final minute to help seal a semi-final berth from group B after scraping past 31-27 in a fiercely-contested opening battle of the day.

For India, the most Monu Goyat, who came in as a substitute in the second half topped the raid charts with seven points.

and scored six points each as they inflicted two all-outs en route to another convincing victory.

Rohit gave India a 6-1 lead inside five minutes with a super raid and a couple of minutes later, inflicted the first all-out.

had no answers to the attacking and deceptive style of Rohit Kumar, and Thakur.

There was further setback for when was down with an in a 17th minute action, but fortunately for them he returned in the second half.

A splendid ankle hold from Ali sent Rohit back in the hut, but Ali got hurt in the process as India led 18-9 at half time.

India unleashed Goyat (Rs 1.51 crore Haryana Steelers) in place of Rohit in the second half to continue their assault.

Earlier in the first match, it was anyone's game till the last three minutes as led 24-22 and got a raid point to reduce the deficit to one point.

Sedaghatnia scored with a two-point raid before got another point in the dying seconds to seal their last-four berth.

Maghsoudlou scored 12 points while put up an all-round show both in attack and defence to spearhead Iran's challenge.

The meet is being organised by the International Federation in partnership with and Council.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, June 25 2018. 22:35 IST