India Complete Kabaddi Gold Double as Men Defeat Iran 40-34 in Asian Games Final

India completed a memorable kabaddi double at the Asian Games as the men’s team defeated Iran 40-34 in a thrilling final to retain its title and secure a record ninth Asian Games gold medal.

The victory capped a dramatic turnaround for India, which trailed 17-18 at half-time before producing a dominant second-half performance. With the defence tightening and the raiding unit finding greater consistency, India gradually pulled away from Iran to finish the contest six points clear. The men’s triumph came just hours after the Indian women’s team had also beaten Iran in the final, winning 37-34 to successfully defend its Asian Games crown. The two victories gave India gold medals in both men’s and women’s kabaddi competitions.

The men’s final began as a closely fought contest between two of Asia’s leading kabaddi nations. India and Iran traded points in the opening stages, with neither side able to establish a significant advantage. The score was level at 5-5 after the opening exchanges before India moved narrowly ahead. Arjun Deshwal’s raiding provided India with important points, helping the defending champions establish a 12-9 advantage.

Iran, however, responded strongly. A crucial sequence involving Mohammadreza Zafardanesh allowed Iran to force an all-out and move ahead. India found itself trailing 14-13 before Iran eventually took an 18-17 lead into half-time. The first half reflected the intensity expected from a final between two familiar rivals. Both teams relied heavily on reviews and tactical defensive formations, while Iran's Fazal Atrachali and Mohammadreza Shadloui provided considerable experience and threat.

India therefore entered the second half with work to do.

The complexion of the contest changed quickly after the break. Iran initially extended its momentum and moved three points ahead, but India responded through a crucial super tackle from Jaideep. Aslam Inamdar then produced an important do-or-die raid, helping India level the scores. The teams were locked at 21-21 before India's defensive unit began to take control.

From there, India steadily built its advantage. Sumit was particularly influential in defence, repeatedly frustrating Iran's raiders with well-timed tackles. Jaideep and the rest of the defensive unit also produced crucial interventions at key moments. At the other end, Arjun Deshwal continued to provide India with valuable points through his raids.

India moved to 29-24 and then forced an all-out on Iran, significantly widening the gap in a match that had been extremely tight for much of the opening half.

Sumit and Arjun lead India's charge

With the clock running down, India established a commanding advantage. The score moved to 34-27 with just over six minutes remaining, and India was increasingly able to dictate the pace of the contest. Sumit's defensive work became a major factor, while Arjun's raiding kept the pressure on Iran. A spectacular one-on-one tackle by Rahul on Shadloui further underlined India's defensive dominance. India moved to 36-29 with less than four minutes remaining.

Iran attempted to fight back, but India continued to control the contest. With less than two minutes left, India led 39-30. Fazal attempted a desperate tackle on Aslam during a raid, but the Indian raider managed to cross the halfway line while taking two Iranian defenders with him. The move effectively sealed India's victory.

India eventually finished the final 40-34, completing a remarkable second-half comeback after entering the interval one point behind.

The victory marks India's ninth men's kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games. India had dominated the competition since kabaddi's introduction at the Asian Games in 1990, with Jakarta 2018 representing the only edition where the men's team failed to win gold. India returned to the top of the podium at the Hangzhou Asian Games, held in 2023 after being postponed from 2022, and successfully defended that title in the latest edition.

The win also extends India's remarkable record against Iran in the Asian Games kabaddi final. The two teams had met in the previous edition's gold-medal match as well, with India defeating Iran 33-29 to reclaim the title. This time, Iran once again pushed India hard in the opening half, but the defending champions produced a vastly different second-half performance.

The men's victory completed a perfect day for Indian kabaddi. Earlier, India's women's team had defeated Iran 37-34 in another closely contested final. The result allowed the women to retain their Asian Games title and claim their fourth gold medal in the competition. Together, the two results delivered a kabaddi gold double for India.

For the men's team, the 40-34 victory was built on resilience after a difficult first half, outstanding defensive execution and influential contributions from Sumit and Arjun Deshwal. India entered the final as defending champions and leaves with another gold medal and another chapter added to its long-standing dominance of Asian Games kabaddi.