Aichi-Nagoya, September 26: India won Asian Games kabaddi gold in both the women’s and men’s events on Saturday, beating Iran in each final at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Tokai City.
The women won 37-34 in the morning final. The men followed in the afternoon with a 40-34 win. Both teams were defending champions and went through the tournament unbeaten.
Women hold off Iran’s comeback
Pushpa Rana’s side led 22-16 at half-time. Iran fought back and cut the gap to 27-26 with eight minutes left.
Ritu Negi made a super tackle under pressure and Pooja’s raids put India back in control. India pulled away to 34-28 before closing out the win.
Iran were without their captain Zahra Karimi, who missed the final. Saniya Naeimi and Atena Madadi led their challenge. Rana said afterwards that her team “fought till the end”.
India had beaten Nepal 48-24 in the semi-final. Chinese Taipei and Nepal shared bronze in the eight-team event. It is India’s fourth women’s kabaddi gold in five Asian Games; the only miss was in Jakarta in 2018.
Men pull clear after level half
The men’s final, led for India by Sunil Kumar with Pawan Sehrawat as vice-captain, was level at 20-20 at half-time. India pulled away in the second half to win by six points.
India reached the final with a 66-28 win over Thailand. Iran had ended India’s long winning run in the men’s event at Jakarta 2018. India won the title back at Hangzhou 2023 and have now defended it.
The two golds took India’s tally at the Games to four gold medals.
Read more: How India reached both kabaddi finals.
Asian Games 2026 medal table (top 10, as on September 26)
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 107 | 41 | 28 | 176 |
| 2 | Japan | 31 | 49 | 49 | 129 |
| 3 | South Korea | 16 | 21 | 36 | 73 |
| 4 | Uzbekistan | 8 | 17 | 9 | 34 |
| 5 | Kazakhstan | 8 | 8 | 19 | 35 |
| 6 | Thailand | 8 | 7 | 9 | 24 |
| 7 | Iran | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| 8 | Bahrain | 7 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| 9 | North Korea | 5 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
| 10 | India | 4 | 12 | 14 | 30 |
