India completed a kabaddi golden double at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday, as both the men’s and women’s teams beat Iran in thrilling finals and defended their Hangzhou titles.
Men seal 40–34 final
The Sunil Kumar-led men’s side won 40–34 in a tense summit clash at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium, with scores locked 20–20 at one stage before India pulled clear. Attackers including Arjun Deshwal and Devank Dalal, and defenders such as Sumit and Jaideep, helped the side finish the campaign unbeaten. It was India’s ninth Asian Games men’s kabaddi gold and a successful defence of the crown reclaimed in 2023 after Iran’s 2018 breakthrough — the only recent interruption of India’s long dominance.
Women claim fourth Asian Games gold
Earlier, the women’s team edged Iran 37–34. India led 22–16 at half-time; Iran won the second half 18–15, but the cushion held. The victory gave India its fourth women’s kabaddi gold since the event debuted in 2010 — and a second straight title after Hangzhou. After the match, players took a victory lap chanting “Vande Mataram.”
The double capped a strong day for Team India and underlined kabaddi’s continued depth against its fiercest rival. Iran remains the only side to interrupt India’s near-monopoly in recent editions, making Saturday’s back-to-back finals especially symbolic for fans who treat the sport as a national stronghold on the Asian multi-sport stage.
With women’s cricket gold and a mixed 10m air-pistol title already on the board, kabaddi’s twin wins added serious momentum to India’s medal chase in Japan. Coaches and fans will remember the day as proof that when India meets Iran in a kabaddi final, the continent’s standard is still set in blue — and that the final whistle still belongs to the side that holds its nerve.
Related: Sawan Barwal marathon silver; Russia-Ukraine aerial war.
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