India edges Iran for fourth straight Asian Games kabaddi
India's women's kabaddi team defeated Iran 37-34 in a tense final at the 2026 Asian Games, securing their fourth consecutive gold medal in the event.
India defeated Iran 37-34 in the women's kabaddi final to claim their fourth consecutive Asian Games gold. The victory at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games also marked India's third gold medal of the multi-sport event, continuing their perfect record in the sport since its 2010 Asian Games debut, with the sole exception being Iran's win in 2018.
Game progression and key moments
The match took place at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium on Saturday, September 26, 2026. It began with a 5-5 tie after four minutes before Iran took a 6-5 lead. India responded, building a 22-16 halftime lead after securing an all-out with six minutes left in the first half. Key plays included a point from Pooja, a tackle by Bhavna Devi, and a multi-point raid from Nikita.
Iran mounted a fierce comeback in the second half, outscoring India 18-15. Using quick movements and raids from Atena Madadi and Aynaz Faramarzi, they reduced India to two players on the mat. An all-out inflicted on India brought the score to 27-26, cutting the deficit to a single point with eight minutes remaining. India held a narrow 25-20 lead with ten minutes left.
India's most effective raider, Nikita, was pinned after a futile raid and received treatment on court but returned to play. The experienced squad, with most players having competed at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, tightened their defence. Sanju Devi executed a super raid that swung momentum back in India's favour. Captain Pushpa Rana then sealed an All-Out of her own to restore breathing room. India rebuilt their lead to 37-31 with one minute left. Iran scored three final points but could not equalize. After the final hooter, India took a victory lap as chants of 'Vande Mataram' filled the arena.
The final point breakdown from the match was as follows:
| Team | Raid Points | Bonus Points | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 26 | 6 | 37 |
| Iran | 21 | 8 | 34 |
Tactical insight and player contributions
India had identified Iran's left flank as a weakness during a group stage victory earlier in the tournament. In the final, raiders Nikita, captain Pooja, and Sanju Devi repeatedly targeted that area. India led 3-1 early and reduced Iran to three players, though Iran fought back to level the score at 7-7 in the opening exchanges.
Kabaddi stalwart Sonali Shingate noted that Iran are always a tough competitor. She explained that attacking them from the weak left flank helped negate their threat. Iran's Zahra Karimi made important tackles in the second half during their comeback attempt. India's strategy of forcing Iran to take greater risks ultimately proved decisive in the narrow win.
India will look to maintain their kabaddi supremacy in upcoming international tournaments, building on this hard-fought victory.
