Indian men’s kabaddi team won their second consecutive Asian Games gold medal and the record-stretching ninth Asian Games gold medal after beating Iran by 40-34 in the Final of the Asian Games 2026.
Indian men’s team made a strong comeback in the second half of the Final to snatch the gold medal, which was India’s second kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, after the women’s team clinched a closer win, and also the fourth overall gold medal at the Asian Games 2026.
At the end of the first half, India were just behind Iran with the 17-18 scoreline. However, the defending champions performed strongly in the second half, recording 23-16 in their favour, to snatch another crucial gold medal.
Both teams recorded four bonuses and two all-outs each in the Final, while India had just crucial upperhands in the technical (1-0) and super tackles (3-2) to secure a close win. Just like the women’s gold medalists, it was also the men’s closest battle at the Asian Games 2026.
Indian men’s team claimed comfortable group stage wins against Japan (49-24), South Korea (63-31), Bangladesh (48-25), and Chinese Taipei (37-21), before thrashing Thailand (66-28) in the Semifinal.
India previously won the Asian Games gold medals in the men’s kabaddi event in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022, while Iran were the only other Asian Games gold medalist in the men’s kabaddi event that they won in 2018. In 2018, India won a bronze.
Asian Games 2026 (Men’s Kabaddi): Group Stage
India vs Japan: Won by 49-24
India vs South Korea: Won by 63-31
India vs Bangladesh: Won by 48-25
India vs Chinese Taipei: Won by 37-21
Asian Games 2026 (Men’s Kabaddi): Semifinal
India vs Thailand: Won by 66-28
Asian Games 2026 (Men’s Kabaddi): Final
India vs Iran: Won by 40-34