India won both gold medals in Asian Games 2026 kabaddi on September 26, beating Iran 40-34 in the men’s final and 37-34 in the women’s final. Both teams finished unbeaten in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Here is how they won the titles, along with every match result and winning margin from their campaigns.
The two finals at Tokai Citizen Gymnasium were also India’s closest matches of the tournament. The men won by six points, while the women held on for a three-point victory.
India men beat Iran 40-34 in the final
India had to come from behind to defend their title. Iran led 18-17 at half-time, leaving the gold medal match finely balanced before the second half.
Arjun Deshwal and Devank Dalal helped India’s attack, while Sumit and Jaideep contributed in defence. An all-out helped India move five points ahead with around 10 minutes remaining. In kabaddi, an all-out happens when every player on one side has been put out, earning the opposition two extra points.
Iran stayed in the contest, but India protected their lead in the closing minutes. Aslam Inamdar added two late points as the men completed a 40-34 win and secured their ninth Asian Games gold medal.
India men’s results at Asian Games 2026
India won all four Group A matches before beating Thailand in the semifinal and Iran in the final. Their biggest victory came against Thailand, when they won 66-28, a margin of 38 points.
| Date (2026) | Stage | Opponent | Score (India first) | Winning margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 September | Group A | Japan | 49-24 | 25 points |
| 22 September | Group A | South Korea | 63-31 | 32 points |
| 23 September | Group A | Bangladesh | 48-25 | 23 points |
| 24 September | Group A | Chinese Taipei | 37-21 | 16 points |
| 25 September | Semifinal | Thailand | 66-28 | 38 points |
| 26 September | Final | Iran | 40-34 | 6 points |
Across six matches, India scored 303 points and conceded 163. They won every game, with the final providing their smallest winning margin.
India women hold off Iran to win 37-34
The women’s final followed a different pattern. India led 22-16 at half-time, but Iran fought back after the break and cut the gap to just one point at 27-26.
Captain Pushpa Rana, Sanju Devi and Pooja were among the players who helped India through the contest. Iran outscored India 18-15 in the second half, but India’s earlier advantage proved enough to secure the title.
The teams had already met in Group A, where India won 37-23. The final was much tighter: the margin fell from 14 points in their first meeting to three in the gold medal match.
India women’s results at Asian Games 2026
India’s women won all three Group A games before defeating Nepal 48-24 in the semifinal. Their biggest win of the tournament was the 50-25 result against Japan.
| Date (2026) | Stage | Opponent | Score (India first) | Winning margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 September | Group A | Bangladesh | 42-21 | 21 points |
| 23 September | Group A | Iran | 37-23 | 14 points |
| 24 September | Group A | Japan | 50-25 | 25 points |
| 25 September | Semifinal | Nepal | 48-24 | 24 points |
| 26 September | Final | Iran | 37-34 | 3 points |
The women finished with five wins from five matches, scoring 214 points and conceding 127. Iran were the only team they faced twice, and India won both meetings.
How many Asian Games kabaddi golds have India won?
India now have nine men’s titles and four women’s titles in Asian Games kabaddi. The women’s gold medals came in 2010, 2014, the 2022 edition and 2026.
The 2022 Asian Games were held in Hangzhou in 2023 after being postponed. India won both kabaddi titles there, so the victories in Japan mean both teams have successfully defended their gold medals.
Together, the two Indian teams played 11 matches in the 2026 tournament and won all 11, finishing their campaigns with gold.
