India added another glorious chapter to its kabaddi legacy on Saturday as the men’s national team staged a remarkable second-half turnaround to beat Iran 40-34 in the gold-medal clash at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, successfully defending their title. Trailing 17-18 at the halfway mark, the reigning champions displayed exceptional grit to overturn the deficit after the break, securing a comprehensive six-point victory that neatly capped off a golden kabaddi double for India following the women’s team earlier win against the same opponent. Overjoyed by the historic sweep, the men’s squad paraded around the arena while proudly singing the patriotic anthem “Vande Mataram.” The final commenced with cautious yet intense play from both sides, as the veteran-heavy Iranian line-up pressed hard to stifle India’s offense and managed to squeeze out a narrow one-point lead at intermission. The second half, however, belonged entirely to India, who returned to the court with blazing momentum, dominating both flanks as their raiders broke through Iranian defenses at will while the backline successfully shut down enemy scoring opportunities. With precise game management, India stretched their lead to 39-30 heading into the final two minutes, neutralizing any hopes of a dramatic Iranian comeback. Though Iran fought valiantly until the final whistle, India comfortably closed out the 40-34 scoreline to claim their ninth men’s kabaddi gold in Asian Games history. This triumph further solidifies India’s historic supremacy in the discipline, continuing a tradition of excellence that dates back to 1990, save for a brief hiccup in 2018, and proving once again that Indian kabaddi remains a global benchmark.
