India completed a golden double in kabaddi at the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, with both the men’s and women’s teams defeating Iran in their respective finals. The men’s side produced a strong second-half comeback to win 40-34, hours after the women had prevailed 37-34.
The men’s final at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi-Nagoya was closely contested during the opening half. India went into the interval trailing Iran 17-18, with both teams trading points in a tense contest.
Iran then increased the pressure after the break and moved 24-21 ahead before extending its advantage to 29-24. India, however, maintained its composure and gradually turned the match around. Instead of taking unnecessary risks, the Indian players continued collecting points while restricting Iran’s scoring opportunities.
The turnaround proved decisive as India moved ahead and eventually secured a 40-34 victory, successfully defending the men’s kabaddi title. The triumph also marked India’s ninth Asian Games gold medal in men’s kabaddi.
Earlier in the day, the Indian women’s team had also overcome Iran in a tightly fought final. India won 37-34 to retain its title, completing an unprecedented same-day kabaddi gold double for the country at these Games.
Both Indian teams entered the competition as defending champions after winning gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 2026 kabaddi competition was staged in Aichi-Nagoya, with the gold-medal matches scheduled for September 26.
The two victories add another significant chapter to India’s long-standing success in Asian Games kabaddi.
