Full Breakdown
India Completes Kabaddi Double Gold at the 2026 Asian Games
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Event Summary
India’s men’s kabaddi team defeated Iran 40-34 in the final of the Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, securing the nation’s ninth men’s kabaddi gold. The victory came hours after the Indian women’s team beat the same Iranian side 37-34, also defending their title. Both finals were tightly contested, with lead changes throughout the first half before India pulled ahead decisively in the second. A late super-tackle by the men’s defence and a crucial tackle on Iran’s Aynaz in the women’s match sealed the outcomes.
Tournament Path & Context
The men entered the knockout stage after topping Pool A with wins over Japan, Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh and Korea. In the semi-final they overwhelmed Thailand 66-28. The women’s side similarly progressed through the group stage and semi-finals before meeting Iran in the final. Iran entered the games as the 2018 Asian Games champions in both men’s and women’s kabaddi, making the Indian victories a direct defense of titles first won at the Hangzhou edition.
Medal Impact & Statistics
The two gold medals raised India’s overall tally to 28 medals—four gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze—placing the country within the top ten of the Games’ medal standings. The men’s final featured a back-and-forth exchange that saw the score tied at 21-21 before India built a five-point lead at 29-24 with ten minutes remaining. The women’s match was decided by a single-point margin in the closing minute.
Significance
Securing both men’s and women’s kabaddi titles on the same day underscores India’s dominance in the sport across Asian competition. The back-to-back victories against the reigning Iranian champions highlight the depth of talent and strategic resilience within the Indian squads, reinforcing the nation’s status as the leading kabaddi power in the region.