India won both kabaddi gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, September 26, defeating Iran in the men's and women's finals at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The men came from behind at halftime to win 40-34, while the women held on for a 37-34 victory earlier in the day, according to Pro Kabaddi, which covered both matches.
The results gave India consecutive Asian Games titles in both competitions. The men's team claimed its ninth gold since kabaddi joined the Games in 1990. The women's team secured its fourth title in five editions since its competition began in 2010. Iran remains the only other country to have won either event, having taken both titles in Jakarta in 2018.
In the men's final, Iran led 18-17 at halftime after an all-out shifted the early momentum. Pro Kabaddi reported that Indian raiders Arjun Deshwal and Devank Dalal found points throughout the match, while Sumit and Jaideep helped the defense recover after the break. An Indian all-out created a five-point lead with about 10 minutes left, and the team protected its advantage to finish unbeaten in the tournament.
The women's match followed a different course. India led 22-16 at halftime, but Iran narrowed the gap to 27-26 after the interval. Pro Kabaddi credited Sanju Devi with a super raid that restored momentum and captain Pushpa Rana with a subsequent all-out. India then resisted a late Iranian push. The Indian Express also reported the 37-34 result and said India's women had gone unbeaten through the event.
Both finals showed Iran's ability to challenge India's established position in kabaddi. The women's margin was three points and the men's six, despite India entering as defending champion in each event. India's two wins also added to its medal total at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, where competition continues in other sports through October 4.
For the kabaddi teams, Saturday closed their campaigns with two defended titles and two silvers for Iran. The men's victory followed a semifinal win over Thailand, while the women had beaten Iran during group play before meeting the same opponent for gold. Future Asian Games will test whether India can extend this run as Iran continues to reach the finals.
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