IBNS-CMEDIA: India added another gold medal to its tally after the men’s kabaddi team defeated Iran 40-34 in a thrilling final at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday.
After a nervy first half, India produced a calm, composed and disciplined performance after the break to secure victory against a tough Iranian side.
India trailed 17-18 at halftime but bounced back strongly in the second half, tightening its defence and finding greater rhythm and aggression in attack to take control of the contest.
Absolute domination on the mat!🇮🇳🥇
The Indian Men’s Kabaddi Team secures a historic 9th Asian Games Gold with a thrilling 40-34 victory over Iran. Proud of our champions! #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/TFRuF8mh8S
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) September 26, 2026
Iran put up a memorable fight and made India work for every point, turning the final into a gripping battle between two of Asia’s kabaddi powerhouses.
The victory marked India’s ninth Asian Games gold medal in men’s kabaddi. India has traditionally dominated the discipline, although its long-standing winning streak was halted at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, where Iran defeated the Men in Blue in the semi-final.
India regained the gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and successfully defended the title in Aichi-Nagoya.
Earlier on Saturday, India’s women’s kabaddi team also defeated Iran 37-34 in the gold-medal match.
It was therefore a memorable day for Indian kabaddi, with both the men’s and women’s teams winning gold and further strengthening the country’s dominance in the sport at the Asian Games.
