Asian Games 2026: India retain men's kabaddi gold, women also win

India's men's kabaddi team retained the Asian Games title in Nagoya on September 26, 2026, defeating Iran in the final, while the Indian women's side beat Iran earlier the same day to complete a kabaddi golden double.

The men's final finished 40-34 after a tightly contested match that was tied 20-20 at one stage before India pulled ahead to secure victory. The women's match ended 37-34; India led 22-16 at half-time, Iran won the second half 18-15 but India held on to their lead.

India had previously won seven successive men's kabaddi golds before their run was broken at the 2018 Jakarta Games, when Iran were champions and India finished fourth. The Indian men had reclaimed the title at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, and Sunday’s triumph brought India’s overall tally in Asian Games kabaddi to nine gold medals.

The Indian women's team have now won Asian Games gold in every edition except the 2018 Jakarta Games, when they settled for silver after losing to Iran. After the winning matches in Nagoya, members of the Indian teams took a victory lap of the arena and chanted the national song, 'Vande Mataram'.

Both finals were contested against Iran in Nagoya on September 26, 2026, with India successfully defending the men's and women's kabaddi titles.