Kabaddi at Asian Games: India’s Men and Women Keep Gold Hopes Alive in Aichi-Nagoya
India’s kabaddi teams remained unbeaten at the Asian Games as the men and women recorded wins in their latest group matches, keeping their campaigns on course for the knockout stage.
The women defeated Bangladesh 42-21 in their opening match before beating 2018 champions Iran 37-23 on Tuesday. India held a 19-15 lead at half-time and extended the advantage after the break. The victory was India’s second in Group A. Their final group fixture is against Japan on Thursday.
The men began their campaign with a 49-24 victory over hosts Japan and followed it with a 63-31 win against South Korea. They then defeated Bangladesh 48-25 on Wednesday to register their third successive Group A win. India led 29-9 at half-time before Bangladesh reduced the margin in the second period. The result also secured India a place in the semi-finals. The men will face Chinese Taipei in their final group match on Thursday.
India coach Neeta Dadwe said the win was India’s first by more than 10 points against Iran. Pushpa Rana said gold remained the target, while praising coordination among players and coaches.
India are the defending champions in both men’s and women’s kabaddi at the Asian Games. At Hangzhou, held in 2023 after being postponed from 2022, the men defeated Iran 33-29 in the final, while the women beat Chinese Taipei 26-25 to win gold.
The 2018 Jakarta edition was the only Asian Games in which India did not win a kabaddi gold medal. Iran defeated India’s men in the semi-final, leaving them with bronze, while the Iranian women won the final 27-24 against India.
Kabaddi has been part of the men’s Asian Games programme since 1990, with India winning 11 of the 13 gold medals contested. The women’s event was introduced in 2010.
At Aichi-Nagoya, the women’s team will complete its group campaign against Japan, while the men will meet Chinese Taipei. India’s two teams entered the tournament as the reigning champions after their double gold at Hangzhou.