India Wins Men’s Kabaddi Gold at Asian Games 2026

India beat Iran in the men’s kabaddi finals of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on 26 September by a score of 40-34 to claim the men’s kabaddi gold for the second consecutive time after winning the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Both nations qualified to compete in the gold medal match of the men’s competition on the Day 8 finals.

Match Details: India vs Iran Kabaddi final

The match featured two prominent kabaddi teams from Asia. While Iran won the gold medal against India in the 2018 Asian Games, India reclaimed the title by defeating them at Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in 2023. Therefore, this match was a reprisal match between the two countries for the gold medal at the tournament.

Iran led in the first half of the game, but India ended up winning the half 18-17. India went on to perform well in the second half by playing some superb defensive games including some super tackles and an all out which helped them pull away with a comfortable lead. Ultimately, India won 40-34.

Among some of the Indian players who started for the game include Pawan Kumar, Rahul, Arjun Deshwal, Jaideep, Ankit, Devank, Gaurav Khatri, Ashu Malik, Sumit, Ayan, Sunil Kumar and Aslam Mustafa Inamdar.

India’s Asian Games Record in Kabaddi

Kabaddi was introduced as an exhibition event at the Asian Games in 1982. It became a medal event from 1990 onwards. Women’s kabaddi was included in 2010.

India has been very successful in the men’s kabaddi category since its introduction. Prior to the 2026 men’s kabaddi final, India had won eight gold medals in men’s kabaddi in the Asian Games. India lost only one men’s final in the modern era, which was Jakarta 2018 where India won the bronze medal while Iran clinched the gold medal.

India reclaimed its glory by winning the men’s gold in Hangzhou 2022.

With the victory in 2026, India added yet another gold medal to its Asian Games record in men’s kabaddi.

Rivalry between India & Iran in Asian Games Kabaddi

One of India’s main competitors in Asian Games kabaddi has been Iran. Iran secured the gold medal in men’s kabaddi in 2018 when India secured only the fourth place. Then India beat the challenge of the field to claim the gold again in Hangzhou and retained it in Aichi-Nagoya.

The rivalry is also important in women’s kabaddi. In women’s Asian Games kabaddi, Iran claimed the gold medal in 2018 whereas India had been winning in every other edition of the event since its inception in 2010.