India retained the men’s kabaddi gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating Iran 40-34 in the final at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday. The victory secured India’s ninth men’s kabaddi gold at the Asian Games.
Iran started strongly and led 18-17 at half-time, keeping the final closely contested. India, however, stepped up their performance after the break, improving their defensive organisation and attacking play to build a decisive lead.
The result also saw India successfully defend the title they won at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. Iran had ended India’s seven-edition winning run in the men’s event at the 2018 Jakarta Games, before India regained the title in Hangzhou.
The men’s victory completed a kabaddi gold-medal double for India in Aichi-Nagoya. Earlier on Saturday, the Indian women’s team defeated Iran in the final to retain their title.
India’s men’s kabaddi team has now won gold in eight of the nine editions in which the men’s event has been contested since 1990, with Iran taking the title in 2018.
