India beats Iran 40-34 to win kabaddi gold at Asian Games
India's men's kabaddi team beat Iran 40-34 in a closely fought final to win gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
The Indian men's kabaddi team beat Iran 40-34 in the final to win the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, being held in Japan. This is being reported as India's fourth gold medal at the event, with the Indian players once again proving their dominance on the kabaddi mat.
The final between India and Iran was closely fought and tense from the start, given the long-standing rivalry between the two teams. Both sides fought hard for every point from the first minute, and it was difficult to predict which way the match would go at any stage.
Iran started aggressively and tried to put pressure on the Indian team early on. Iran presented a strong challenge at the outset. In the first half, Iran led by just one point, with the score at 18-17, showing that neither team had a clear upper hand.
In the second half, the composure, aggression and strategy shown by the Indian players pushed Iran back. Raiding for India, Arjun Deshwal used speed and agility to dodge Iranian defenders and pick up crucial points. In the final six minutes of the match, the Indian team built a big lead, which it held on to till the end to seal the gold medal.
This is being reported as the Indian men's kabaddi team's second consecutive gold at the Asian Games and its ninth gold overall in the event. India has not only repeated its previous win but extended its long-standing dominance in the sport.
