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India women kabaddi team meets Ashwini Vaishnaw at Rail Bhawan after Asian Games gold

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The India women kabaddi team, which defended its Asian Games title with a 37-34 win over Iran, was honoured by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi on 16 October 2026. Several players and the head coach work for Indian Railways, and the minister congratulated them for making the Tricolour proud. In a post on X he wrote that the daughters of the country had raised the honour of the national flag. The ministry used the meeting to highlight how Indian Railways nurtures sporting talent through its Railway Sports Promotion Board.

India women kabaddi team: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw with Asian Games gold medallists from the women's kabaddi squad at Rail Bhawan
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw with Asian Games gold medallists from the women's kabaddi squad at Rail Bhawan Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

How the India women kabaddi team won gold in Nagoya

The final was played on 26 September 2026 at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. According to the Olympic Council of Asia, India led 22-16 at half-time after scoring 16 out points, three bonus points, two all-out points and one technical point. Iran came back strongly after the break and won the second half 18-15, but India held on to win by three points. The result gave India its fourth gold in the women’s event since it entered the Asian Games in 2010. The only final India has lost was in 2018, when Iran took the title. Captain Pushpa Rana, leading the side for the first time, told reporters that team unity carried them whenever a match became difficult.

Key Facts

  • Final: India beat Iran 37-34, 26 Sep 2026, Aichi-Nagoya
  • Half-time score: 22-16 to India
  • India’s women’s titles: 4 of 5 since 2010
  • Captain: Pushpa Rana; head coach: Neeta Moreshwar Dadwe
  • Rail Bhawan meeting: 16 Oct 2026

“It feels great to win a gold medal, especially against a team such as Iran, who played exceptionally well.”

— Pushpa Rana, India captain, to the Olympic Council of Asia

Railway players who met the minister

The Railways ministry said the team was coached by Neeta Moreshwar Dadwe and captained by Pushpa Rana. The railway sportspersons who met Vaishnaw were head coach Neeta Moreshwar Dadwe of South Central Railway, Ritu Negi of South Central Railway, Pooja of Northern Railway, Pinky Roy of South Central Railway, and Sonali Vishnu Shingate and Raj Rani of Western Railway. Pooja was one of the key raiders in the final, according to the Olympics.com match report. The minister praised the players for their dedication, determination and sporting excellence, and said their win had brought laurels to the country at a big international event.

What the Railway Sports Promotion Board does

Indian Railways backs athletes through the Railway Sports Promotion Board, which lets players hold a regular job while they train and compete. The ministry said its sportspersons have represented India at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. The kabaddi gold medal in Nagoya also kept India at the top of the women’s game in Asia: the country has now won four of the five titles on offer since 2010. For the players, the Rail Bhawan meeting was a public thank-you from their employer, three weeks after they stood on the podium in Japan.

Why It Matters: Jobs with Indian Railways let many kabaddi players train full-time, so the employer's support is a big part of why India keeps winning this title.

Also on TrendDesh: Asian Games 2026 review: Mandaviya tells federations India needs '10 more Mirabai Chanus' · Asian Para Games 2026: SAI Gandhinagar sends off para powerlifters Jhandu Kumar, Seema Rani and team

Source: PIB (Ministry of Railways) · Olympic Council of Asia · Olympics.com

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