Iran vs India. Again. And again.
If you thought one India–Iran kabaddi final was enough drama for a day, Asian Games 2026 had other plans.
India faced Iran in both the women’s and men’s kabaddi finals — and came out with two gold medals.
First, the women delivered.
Then, the men said: “Our turn.” 👀
India’s women defeated Iran 37–34 in a tense final at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
India built a lead early, but Iran refused to make it easy, fighting back in the second half. The Indian side held its nerve to close out the three-point win and secure the gold.
For India, it was another major moment in its long Asian Games kabaddi record.
And then came the men.
The men’s final followed the exact same India vs Iran script — except India turned the volume all the way up in the second half.
India defeated Iran 40–34 to retain the Asian Games men’s kabaddi gold.
The first half was a proper heavyweight battle, with both teams going toe-to-toe. But India took control after the break and pulled away to secure the title.
Women: 37–34.
Men: 40–34.
Iran came into two finals.
India walked out with two golds.
The men’s victory marked India’s ninth Asian Games gold in men’s kabaddi across the sport’s history at the Games.
Combined with the women’s victory, India now has 13 Asian Games kabaddi gold medals overall nine from the men and four from the women.
The 2018 Asian Games remain the major exception to India’s usual dominance: Iran won the men’s title, while India took bronze; in women’s kabaddi, Iran won gold and India settled for silver that year. India reclaimed the men’s title in 2022.
This was more than two separate finals.
It was the same opponent.
The same gold-medal target.
Two different Indian teams.
And both delivered.
Iran got the finals.
India got the gold.
Kabaddi at the Asian Games?
India really said: DOUBLE IT.
