The Indian women's kabaddi team has once again showcased its dominance on the international stage, securing a gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. In a thrilling final match on Saturday, India defeated arch-rivals Iran with a final score of 37-34, extending the nation's illustrious history in the sport.
A Tense Final Unfolds
The final was a nail-biting encounter that saw India build a crucial lead before withstanding a fierce Iranian resurgence. Despite an uncertain start, India found momentum through powerful raids by Sanju, who delivered multiple crucial points to shift the advantage. By half-time, India had established a six-point cushion, leading 22-16.
Iran, however, refused to yield. Spearheaded by Zahra Karimi's timely tackles and Madadi's scoring prowess, they mounted a significant comeback in the second half. Iran outscored India 18-15 in the second period, narrowing the gap considerably and bringing the score to a tense 27-26 at one point, keeping the outcome uncertain until the final minutes.
Responding to Iran's pressure, India rallied again. Sanju executed two more pivotal raids, while Pushpa delivered a critical tackle, pushing India's lead to 34-28. This late surge provided the necessary buffer for India to close out the match, holding off Iran's determined efforts and ultimately securing the gold medal. Following their victory, the Indian players celebrated with a lap of honor, chanting 'Vande Mataram'.
India's Legacy in Kabaddi
This gold medal marks another chapter in India's remarkable kabaddi journey at the Asian Games. The Indian women's team has now won gold in every edition of the Games except for the 2018 Jakarta Games, where they took silver after a loss to Iran.
The men's kabaddi team is also set to compete for gold against Iran later on Saturday, hoping to complete a golden double for India. The men's team had previously secured seven consecutive gold medals before their streak was broken by Iran in 2018, only to reclaim the title at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.