India’s kabaddi teams achieved remarkable success in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday, clinching gold medals in both women’s and men’s events. The women triumphed over Iran with a close score of 37-34, followed by the men who secured their victory against the same team with a score of 40-34. This win allowed both teams to defend their Asian Games titles.
For the men’s team, the win was particularly impressive as they showed great composure after a shaky start. They were trailing at halftime with a score of 17-18, but after the break, captain Sunil Kumar and his teammates stepped up their game. They tightened their defense and found better rhythm in attack, eventually pulling ahead of a determined Iranian side.
In the final against Iran, the match provided plenty of excitement, and Iran made India work hard for every point. However, unlike the thrilling gold medal match three years ago in Hangzhou, this time India maintained their focus and composure when it counted.
The victory margin of six points was notable, especially as it marked India’s biggest win against Iran in the last three Asian Games. In the previous tournament in Hangzhou, they managed a narrow 33-29 victory amid a controversial match that saw lengthy stoppages for referee disputes. Fortunately, there were no such issues during the final in Aichi-Nagoya.
India gradually took charge in the second half, preventing Iran from making a comeback like they did in the last final. As the match drew to a close, Sunil Kumar even acknowledged the Iranian players, showing a sense of confidence that they had secured the victory.
This latest win reinforces India’s stronghold in men’s kabaddi at the Asian Games, marking their ninth gold title in this event. The only setback in recent years came in Jakarta in 2018 when Iran ended India’s long-standing dominance by defeating them in the semifinals. However, India reclaimed their title in Hangzhou and has now successfully defended it.
Earlier in the day, the women’s kabaddi team kicked off this successful campaign by also defeating Iran 37-34 in a thrilling final. The women had an impressive journey throughout the tournament, remaining undefeated in the group stages. They achieved a convincing 37-23 victory over Iran, followed by a 50-25 win against Japan and a 48-24 triumph over Nepal in the semifinals.
The final match for the women, however, was quite challenging. Iran kept the score close, pushing India to rely on their experience and well-organized defense during the final moments. With this win, India’s women’s kabaddi team claimed their fourth gold medal at the Asian Games, contributing to an unforgettable day for Indian kabaddi.
In summary, both teams’ triumphs against Iran not only represented individual victories but also highlighted India’s strong presence in kabaddi on the Asian stage, ultimately securing two gold medals in one day.
