India’s women’s kabaddi team defeated Iran 37–34 in the final to win the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The victory also saw India retain its women’s kabaddi title at the Asian Games.
India Reaches Final After Defeating Nepal
India secured its place in the gold-medal match with a 48–24 victory over Nepal in the semifinal. The team then faced Iran in the final, where a closely contested match ended with India securing the gold medal.
Key Players in the Final
India: Sanju Devi and captain Pushpa Rana were among the Indian players who made important contributions during the final. Sanju produced a crucial two-point raid, while Pushpa Rana made an important defensive play late in the match.
Iran: Atena Madadi played a key role in Iran’s second-half comeback with a four-point raid that brought Iran within one point of India.
About Asian Games 2026
The 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, are being held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026. The Games are being hosted across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, with competitions also taking place in other Japanese cities. The opening ceremony was held on September 19, while some sporting events began earlier on September 10.
The previous edition, the 19th Asian Games, was held in Hangzhou, China, in 2023, after the original 2022 edition was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hangzhou Games were held from September 23 to October 8, 2023.