Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, September 26, 2026: India’s women’s kabaddi team once again stood tallest on the Asian stage, holding their nerve in a fiercely contested final against Iran to win the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. India’s women’s kabaddi team are Asian Games champions once again.
In a final that demanded patience, composure and a strong finish, India defeated Iran 37–34 at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium in Aichi-Nagoya on Saturday to successfully defend the gold medal they won at the previous edition.
The scoreline tells the story of a contest that refused to settle easily. India built a useful advantage early, but Iran kept fighting until the closing minutes, turning the gold-medal match into a tense battle of raids and tackles.
India went into the interval with a 22–16 lead, having done enough in the opening half to put themselves in control. Iran, however, returned with greater urgency after the break and steadily cut into the deficit.
At one stage, the Iranian comeback brought the score to 27–26, leaving India with little room for error.
That was when the defending champions showed the composure that has become a defining feature of their Asian Games campaign.
India responded with crucial attacking points before tightening up defensively. With the match entering its decisive phase, the Indian players refused to allow Iran to turn the comeback into a lead. A late defensive stand helped India protect their advantage and finally close out the contest at 37–34.
Sanju Devi once again played an important role for India, producing valuable points when the pressure was mounting. The team’s defensive effort in the closing stages ultimately proved decisive.
The victory completed an unbeaten Asian Games campaign for India. They had opened the tournament with a 42–21 victory over Bangladesh, followed it with a 37–23 win against Iran, and then defeated hosts Japan 50–25. In the semi-final, India produced another commanding performance, beating Nepal 48–24 to reach the final.
The final against Iran was a very different challenge.
India had already beaten the same opponents in the group stage, but Iran arrived for the title match with another opportunity to challenge the reigning champions. The contest eventually became India’s toughest test of the tournament, with the Iranian side refusing to disappear even after falling six points behind at half-time.
For Indian women’s kabaddi, the victory also carries historical significance.
The women’s event was introduced at the Asian Games in 2010, and India have now won the gold medal four times — in 2010, 2014, 2022 and 2026. The only break in that run came at Jakarta 2018, when Iran defeated India in the final.
This time, Iran pushed India all the way again.
But the result was different.
India held their nerve when it mattered most, completing another successful title defence and adding another golden chapter to the country’s long association with Asian Games kabaddi.
For a team that entered the tournament carrying the expectations of defending champions, the journey could hardly have been more convincing: four matches, four victories and a gold medal at the end of it.
India remain the queens of Asian Games women’s kabaddi.
Sports19 — The Pulse of Indian Sports
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