“Played cohesively as a unit”: India’s kabaddi captains hail golden sweep at Asian Games
India achieves a historic golden sweep in kabaddi at the Asian Games 2026 as both men and women defeat Iran in thrilling finals.
India achieved a historic milestone at the Asian Games 2026, securing a massive golden sweep in kabaddi as both the men’s and women’s teams clinched top honours. In high-octane finals, both Indian squads overcame a formidable Iranian opposition to bring home the gold, marking a moment of immense pride for the nation.
The women’s team showcased their dominance by successfully defending their title, narrowly defeating Iran with a score of 37-34. On the men's side, a dramatic second-half surge allowed India to pull away from Iran, finishing 40-34 to secure a record-breaking ninth Asian Games gold medal in the discipline.
Captains credit teamwork and strategy
Upon their return to India, the champions were greeted with a grand reception at the Delhi Airport on Sunday night. Speaking about the triumph, men’s captain Sunil Kumar emphasized that the victory was a result of collective strength rather than individual brilliance.
"No captain can win a tournament alone; it requires a team. Our team played cohesively as a unit, and that is why we won the gold. I will keep winning gold for Team India," said Sunil Kumar.
Similarly, women’s captain Pushpa Rana highlighted the emotional weight of the victory and the importance of tactical discipline. She noted that the team's success was built on the foundation of hard work and the strategic guidance provided by their coaching staff.
“We cannot explain that feeling [of hearing the national anthem]. We felt extremely good, and we had worked very hard for this. In the end, the entire team executed what we had decided and what our coaches had instructed us to do,” Pushpa Rana shared.
A victory for the entire nation
The men’s head coach, Balwan Singh, dedicated the achievement to the people of India, acknowledging the support system that made the feat possible. He credited the government, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) for their unwavering backing.
“This is the victory of the countrymen. This is the victory of the entire nation. This is the victory of Bharatvarsh, the victory of kabaddi,” Singh remarked, expressing absolute confidence that the team's dominance would continue in future tournaments.
Rising stars celebrate the double gold
The joy was shared across the squad, with players like Raj Rani expressing the thrill of securing her maiden gold medal. She noted the special significance of seeing both the men's and women's contingents standing atop the podium together.
- Men's Final: India 40 - 34 Iran (9th Gold)
- Women's Final: India 37 - 34 Iran (Title Defended)
- Key Supporters: SAI, AKFI, and the Indian Government
As the champions settle back into India, the message from the kabaddi camp remains clear: this is just the beginning of a continued pursuit of gold on the international stage.