India won the gold medal in men’s kabaddi at the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, September 26, defeating Iran 39-32 in the final.
The opening 20 minutes of the final saw a closely contested battle between the two teams. Iran put sustained pressure on the Indian defence and held an 18-17 lead at the end of the first half.
India changed its strategy and performance in the second half. The Indian raiders collected crucial points, while the defence played an important role in stopping Iran’s players. During the decisive phase of the match, India increased the pressure on Iran and secured an all-out to strengthen its position.
India produced an attacking and balanced performance after the break. The pressure on Iran continued to increase, while the Indian defence made several important tackles. Following the all-out, Iran found it difficult to make a comeback.
India capitalised on its advantage and continued to extend its score. The Indian team maintained its lead in the final minutes and eventually won the match 39-32.
With the victory, India regained the men’s kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games.
September 26 also saw India’s women’s kabaddi team win the gold medal. The Indian women’s team defeated Iran 37-33 in the final.
As a result, both India’s women’s and men’s kabaddi teams won gold medals in the same edition of the Asian Games. India’s men’s team had also won the men’s kabaddi gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
In 2026, India successfully defended its title in men’s kabaddi. India has maintained a b record in men’s kabaddi in Asian Games history, and the 2026 victory added another gold medal to that record.
India began its campaign at the 2026 Asian Games with a win over Japan. The team then defeated South Korea 63-31 and maintained its position in the group stage.
In the semi-final, India defeated Thailand 66-28 to qualify for the final. India then faced Iran in the gold-medal match.
The final remained closely contested from the beginning, with Iran taking a one-point lead at half-time. India then overturned the deficit in the second half and secured the 39-32 victory.
