Asian Games 2026: India’s Kabaddi Teams Secure Semifinal Berths and Assured Medals

India’s kabaddi campaign at the Asian Games 2026 has delivered a double celebration, with both the men’s and women’s teams securing places in the semifinals and assuring themselves of medals in Aichi-Nagoya.

The men’s team defeated Bangladesh 48-25 in their Group A encounter, registering their third consecutive victory and confirming their place in the last four. Shortly afterwards, the women’s team joined them, overcoming Iran 37-23 to also seal a semifinal berth and guarantee a medal.

The two results keep both defending champions firmly in contention as they continue their respective title campaigns.

India’s men produced another commanding performance against Bangladesh, winning 48-25 in their Group A clash. The victory was their third straight win of the competition and was enough to secure both a semifinal berth and an assured medal. India had already made an impressive start to the tournament, including victories over Japan and South Korea. The win over Bangladesh continued that unbeaten run and kept the team’s campaign firmly on course.

The Indian side combined its raiding strength with an effective defensive display to maintain control of the contest. With their semifinal place now secured, India will have one more Group A fixture before turning its attention to the knockout stage.

The team will face Chinese Taipei on September 24 at 9:45 AM IST in its final group-stage match. India is continuing its pursuit of a ninth Asian Games kabaddi gold, adding further significance to the remaining matches.

The women’s team faced a tougher opening against Iran but produced an impressive turnaround to win 37-23. Iran started brightly and put India under pressure early, building an 8-4 lead.

India's response was led by Pooja, whose super raids helped change the momentum of the contest. She cut into Iran’s early advantage before another effective raid brought India level.

From that point, India began to take control. The defending champions finished the opening half with a 19-15 lead, having gradually reversed the early deficit through a combination of raiding and defensive pressure. The Indian team then extended its advantage in the second half, scoring 18 points while restricting Iran to eight.

India eventually completed a 37-23 victory, securing the second consecutive win of its Group A campaign.

India’s second-half performance was particularly important in turning the contest into a comfortable victory. The Indian defense disrupted Iran’s rhythm and prevented the Iranian raiders from building sustained momentum. India collected 37 points, including seven bonus points and four All-Out points. The team also added a Super Tackle point in the second half.

Iran managed six bonus points but struggled to match India's scoring consistency as the match progressed. The 18-8 second-half scoreline demonstrated how effectively India responded after Iran's early challenge.

Double Medal Confirmation

The two victories mean India will have representation in the medal rounds of both kabaddi competitions at the Asian Games 2026. The men reached the semifinals after defeating Bangladesh in their third Group A match, while the women followed them into the last four after beating Iran. It gives India a double medal confirmation in a sport where both teams entered the tournament as defending champions.

For the men, the immediate focus will be the final Group A match against Chinese Taipei on September 24. For the women, Japan awaits in the final Group A fixture on September 24 at 4:15 PM IST. That match will conclude their group-stage campaign before the semifinal.

Both teams now have medals assured, but neither campaign ends with qualification for the semifinals. India’s men are chasing another Asian Games gold after establishing themselves as one of the tournament’s most successful kabaddi nations, while the women are also attempting to retain their title.

The men’s 48-25 victory over Bangladesh demonstrated their consistency after three consecutive group-stage wins. The women’s 37-23 victory over Iran, meanwhile, showcased their ability to recover from early pressure and take control of a difficult contest.

With both teams through to the semifinals, India has already secured two kabaddi medals at Aichi-Nagoya. The color of those medals, however, remains undecided.

For now, the defending champions have completed the first major objective: both India’s men’s and women’s kabaddi teams are through to the semifinals and assured of a podium finish.